UP Police Issues Strict Orders: No New Muharram Routes, Weapons Ban Imposed to Ensure Peaceful Observance

Lucknow: In a bid to maintain communal harmony and public safety, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna has issued strict orders to all police units across the state, denying permission for any new Muharram processional routes or the introduction of new religious practices this year.

In an official directive sent on Thursday to all zonal Additional Director Generals (ADGs), commissioners of police, Inspectors General (IGs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), and Superintendents of Police (SPs), DGP Krishna laid out an elaborate security and monitoring plan for Muharram, which will be observed from June 27 to July 6.

“All police stations must review festival registers and ensure that no new tradition or procession route is permitted under any circumstances,” the directive stated.

The DGP also imposed a categorical ban on the carrying or public display of weapons during any religious processions, warning that immediate legal action will be taken against violators.

To avert potential communal flashpoints, local officers have been instructed to personally visit sensitive areas and proactively address public concerns. Beat officers have been asked to identify hotspots and coordinate with senior officials for timely action. Police and revenue officials will jointly assess areas with a history of disputes to prevent tensions.

Organisers of processions and Majlis—including Anjumans and community committees—will be consulted and registered beforehand to ensure coordination and peaceful events.

Security measures will include daily morning patrols, the removal of objectionable posters, and extensive CCTV and drone surveillance. Videography of major events will be conducted for transparency.

Public spaces such as bus stands, railway stations, markets, and religious sites will see enhanced security, with bomb disposal squads, anti-terror units, and sniffer dogs on standby.

Traffic is to remain unaffected throughout the Muharram period, with suspicious vehicles checked at barriers and the Motor Vehicles Act enforced strictly.

Crowd-control resources, including helmets and body protectors, will be stocked at all commissionerate and district offices, while reserve police forces will be stationed with riot-control equipment.

DGP Krishna also instructed police to keep a close watch on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and WhatsApp. Misleading or provocative posts will be removed quickly, with legal action against those spreading misinformation.