Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Nov 18: Taking note of certain religious and socio-religious organisations viewing processions on religious occasions as a show of strength, Union Home Ministry has advised Jammu and Kashmir government to ask organizers of such religious processions to give substantial deposit for the same.
Union Home Ministry has in an advisory, copy of which is with Early Times, said that various kinds of religious processions have very frequently led to communal confrontation and clashes. Besides, certain religious and socio-religious organisations tend to organise, and view, processions on religious occasions as a show of strength, which could itself become a cause for provocation, maintains the Union Home Ministry.
Going tough, MHA has asked the divisional and district administrations to ask organizers of religious processions to give substantial deposit if procession passes through any sensitive areas, and to ensure that they adhere to permitted routes. It has further told the government to ask the organisers to deposit hefty sums if they intend to go through routes which are communally sensitive.
In all cases where there is any sensitivity attached to such processions, MHA has asked the state government to ensure careful security arrangements along the route to prevent any untoward incidents. Further, state government has been told to make specific officers responsible/designated to ensure the same. This is in addition to involvement of, and giving responsibility to, identified respectable members of the community, in the peaceful conduct of processions.
Referring to religious organisations using loudspeakers and amplifiers to spread communal venom and create trouble, Union Home Ministry has asked Jammu and Kashmir government for strict observance/enforcement of specific conditions while granting permission for use of loudspeakers.
State has been told to go strict on religious organisations resorting to use of loudspeakers and amplifiers. MHA has said that the unregulated use of loudspeakers has often been a cause for arousing passions and evoking violent reactions among different groups of people. Apart from use of various legal provisions to regulate use of loudspeakers, state has been told to invoke provisions of noise pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for taking action.
They have also asked administration to disallow use of loudspeakers and amplifiers between 11 pm and 6 am. While taking action against the defaulters, there should be no distinction as to whose place of worship is it. State has been strictly told not to allow roads, lanes and by-lanes in communally sensitive areas to be used for prayers or any other religious function. Extraordinary care should be taken in communally sensitive areas while giving permission to use loudspeakers.
Government has also been told to use Video/Audio coverage and cameras to record the proceedings and movements of such religious processions and gatherings, particularly where the routes may be sensitive or, there may otherwise be even a remote apprehension of possible untoward incidents. These recordings could be used, in case of any communal disturbances, inter alia, for speedy identification and prosecution of the offenders and, in the process, could also act as deterrent.
State has also been asked to take appropriate measures to regulate the carrying of firearms, sharp weapons, bludgeons, sticks, corrosive substances and explosives, etc. Such measures may include, where necessary, direction for depositing these with the police on certain occasions. Similarly, measures should be taken to regulate exhibition of persons or corpse or effigies thereof, public utterance of cries, delivery of harangues, or display of any provocative object including symbols, placards, etc. |
