Muharram: Bihar gets three companies of CAPF

PATNA:The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has allotted three companies of central armed police force (CAPF) to Bihar for deployment on Muharram, which will be observed on Sunday. The government has already banned religious gatherings and processions on Muharram keeping in mind the Covid-19 pandemic.
As per a letter issued by ADG (law and order) Amit Kumar, the MHA has allotted two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and one company of Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) to the state.
The RAF personnel will be deployed in Patna and Bhagalpur and the SSB personnel in Muzaffarpur. The paramilitary forces will conduct flag march in sensitive areas.
Patna SSP Upendra Kumar Sharma said the RAF personnel would conduct flag march in Phulwarisharif and Patna City on Saturday and Sunday as part of confidence building measure and to deter anti-social elements from committing any mischief.
“Magistrates and other police officers have also been deployed, but not on a scale like previous years as Muharram will be a low-key affair this time due to Covid-19 pandemic,” the SSP said.
He added ‘tazias’ are not being made this year and procession is also not allowed. “There is no question of taking out procession as no licence has been issued for it,” he added.
SHO of Pirbahore police station Rizwan Ahmed Khan said a peace committee meeting was organised in the area on August 23 and the people concerned assured them that they would adhere to the restrictions imposed by the state government.
SHO of Phulwarisharif police station Rafique-ur-Rahman also held a peace committee meeting in his jurisdiction and informed people about the dos and don’ts.