DADU: Extraordinary security measures at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan encouraged an energetic, full-capacity dhamal (mystic dance) by devotees on Thursday in the courtyard where close to 90 people were killed and scores of others were wounded by a suicide bomber during the same ritual last Thursday.

A threat alert across Sindh sounded by the authorities concerned remained in place.

Thursdays traditionally witness large crowds at the shrine, but it was believed that many regular visitors would not proceed to the shrine this Thursday considering the uncertainty prevailing in the town after the incident. However, the shrine management and security agencies registered a large crowd this Thursday. They had to open a second gate to facilitate entry of thousands of men, women and children queuing up at the main entrance, known as the golden gate. All other gates have been kept closed since the blast occurred as part of security cordon.

Passionate devotees, including non-Muslims, tried to force their entry into the shrine to participate in dhamal as soon as the second gate was opened, but police and Rangers personnel did not allow any of them to get through without getting frisked first.

Jamshoro SSP Tanvir Alam Odho, speaking to Dawn, said that an extra force of around 450 officers and personnel of police and Rangers were deployed at and around the shrine especially for the day to assist the already posted security personnel.

Women visitors were checked at the entry points by lady police personnel, he said.

Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner Munawwar Mahesar told Dawn that around 50 CCTV cameras had already been installed in and around the shrine, while more were being installed for stricter surveillance.

Qalandar shrine custodian Syed Wali Mohammed Shah said that the terrorist attack had failed to dampen devotees’ spirits as was evident from their strength on Thursday evening. “No one can stop this dhamal which has been continuing for centuries,” he said, and observed that there was no fear or panic among anyone present as if nothing had happened. He observed that Thursday’s crowd at the shrine was massive, which showed that the devotees could not be cowed down by terror and violence.

“Nobody can forget the carnage at this sacred place but one cannot be forced to stop following his belief or faith [by] acts of terrorism,” he said.

Suspects picked up

Meanwhile, the joint police-CIA team formed recently to assist the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) investigators in apprehending all those involved in the Sehwan carnage have reportedly picked up two suspects in a raid carried out in the Fareedabad area of Dadu district on Thursday.

Local reporters said that the suspects were picked up on suspicion of having played a role in facilitating the suicide bombing. The suspects were believed to have links with the ‘Hafeez Brohi group’.

Sources in Dadu police said that the suspects were taken to an unknown place for interrogation.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2017