HYDERABAD: Mourning processions of 9th Muharram started from their traditional points and culminated peacefully at the fixed places after covering the appointed route in almost all big and small towns of the province on Monday while 45,000 policemen would perform security duties across Sindh today on 10th Muharram.
It is learnt that several companies of Pak Army would also remain on the standby to assist civil administration and police if need be.
Khairpur district, which became the most sensitive during Muharram and was a hometown of former Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, falls in Sukkur region where 273 processions would be taken out on 10th of Ashura in Sukkur range and of them nine were most sensitive, according to Sindh’s Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Dr Jamil Ahmed
“Out of 273 processions, nine processions are most sensitive and of them six are in Khairpur while three in Sukkur district,” he said.
He said that 98 majalis were sensitive and of them 90 were in Khairpur, seven in Ghotki and one in Sukkur district. As many as 3,900 policemen would be performing duties for the security of 273 processions, he said.
45,000 policemen to perform security duties across Sindh today on 10th Muharram
He said that 370 majalis were to be held in Sukkur range. “2,471 policemen would be deployed in the region for majallis’ security. Of them 2,060 policemen will be performing duties in Khairpur district alone,” the AIG disclosed.
Around 3,000 policemen would cover 12 most sensitive majalis in Larkana range with three in Qambar-Shahdadkot, five in Shikarpur, three in Kashmore and one in Jacobabad district. Likewise, 3,390 policemen would be protecting 268 processions in the range. Of them the 28 remained most sensitive including 10 each in Qambar-Shahdadkot and Kashmore, six in Jacobabad and two in Shikarpur district. 86 processions are sensitive in entire range.
“The most sensitive event in our district is of Thehri which has a history of bloodbath in 1963,” said Khairpur district senior superintendent of police Umer Tufail. “Several people were killed then in a massacre and since then Khairpur police issue passes to mourners. We have issued passes to 100 people who will perform matam and I will personally supervising the proceedings for security reasons,” Tufail said.
The area of Thehri falls in Babarloi police station. The other major event is to be held in Luqman area of in the jurisdiction of police station B-section. “Area of Luqman is not a flashpoint but it had some history of bickering therefore we don’t take anything for said granted. It is a large gathering of mourners,” he said.
He also mentioned Chathri Chowk event on Tuesday which was to be covered fully in terms of security.
Dr Jamil said that 142 flashpoints were identified in Sukkur region. Of them 17 were in Sukkur district, 38 in Khairpur, 17 in Ghotki, 17 in Larkana, 12 in Qambar-Shahdadkot, seven in Shikarpur, 18 in Jacobabad and 16 in Kashmore. All these areas have a history of major or minor conflict,” he disclosed.
He said that 26 companies of army would remain on the standby in the region. “We will be assisted by 2,700 Rangers personnel though we had demanded 2,940,” he said.
In Hyderabad region, duties have been assigned right up to constable level this time. “Hyderabad has a larger number of activities and that’s why it is being focused,” said DIG Hyderabad range.
He said that every DIG had now powers to seek suspension of mobile services in any sensitive area till proceedings of mourning procession or majlis were underway, therefore, mobile jamming devices might not be used by police.
Hyderabad region of police covers three divisions with 15 districts in lower Sindh. The entire region would have a deployment of 31,414 policemen for active police security duties including 19,496 in Hyderabad range, 3,443 in Mirpurkhas and 8,475 Shaheed Benazirabad range.
Around 2,298 reserves policemen are also there in the region. A total number of 31 points remained troubled spot in Hyderabad, 29 in Mirpurkhas and 23 in Shaheed Benazirabad range with some history of conflict in police record.
Hyderabad SSP Adeel Hussain Chandio said that number of close circuit television cameras had been increased for the security of central procession of Ashura. “Standard operating procedure for the procession remains the same by and large with similar arrangements,” he said.
Mr Shaikh said that out of 83 flashpoints, 31 were in Hyderabad. Police had taken care of every activity of Muharram this year in the range. “Rangers personnel will also be assisting us and around 1,170 Qasim and 654 of Thar Rangers personnel will be with us cumulatively in different districts,” he said.
MIRPURKHAS: The 9th Muharram processions were taken out from Kehri Para, Bhansinghabad and Khari amid strict security arrangements.
The mourners carrying alam and reciting nohas moved on the traditional route under police watch. They marched through main roads and arrived at Makhan Shah Imambargah where a majlis was held.
Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Food and Minority Affairs Hari Ram Kishori Lal accompanied by deputy commissioner and SSP of Mirpurkhas visited different Imambargahs to inspect security arrangements.
The deputy commissioner informed the minister that Imambargahs’ security had been tightened and their custodians were satisfied with the arrangements.
Later, the minister visited police control room and 15 police emergency where the SSP told him that 27 CCTV cameras had been installed to monitor movement of processions.
People were greatly inconvenienced because of mobile service suspension for last two days. They complained that mobile phone service had been stopped without intimation.
BADIN: As many as 117 processions would be taken out in the district on the 10th of Muharrum on Tuesday and 14 Imambargahs had been declared sensitive, according to Badin SSP.
The officer said that 800 policemen and Rangers personnel had been deployed to provide security to the processions and majalis.
He said that of the 117 processions, 14 would be brought out in Badin, four in Nindo Shahar, one in Khoski, one in Tando Bago, 16 in Matli, five in Tando Ghulam Ali, four in Rajo Khanani, four in Kadhan, seven in Talhar, 10 in Golarchi, four in Khorwah, six in Pangrio and two procession would be taken out in Malkani Sharif.
SUKKUR: Thousands of mourners gathered at Imambargah Shah Iraq also known as Karbala Mualla in Rohri on the 9th Muharram to pay homage to martyrs of Karbala.
At midnight, the tazia commonly called Karbala was taken out and when matam reached its peak before dawn lights were switched off in observance of a 500-year-old practice called Shama gul for a short period. Before day-break, all the mourners dispersed.
The procession led by son of former head of defunct Khairpur state passed through main streets of Rohri and culminated at Imambargah Karbala Mualla on the Station Road before sunset.
Over a 1,000 mourners self-inflicted serious wounds during matam and were shifted to Rohri and Sukkur. Emergency was declared in all hospitals while 10 mobile units also provided medical aid within the procession.
In Jacobabad town, 36 processions taken out from different Imambargahs. More than 50 small and big processions were taken out from different Imambargahs in Ghotki, Kandhkot, Kashmore, Tangwani and Thull.
Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2019