 "Why Jama Masjid and other mosques in UP's Sambhal are being covered with tarpaulin sheets ahead of Holi")
The administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal is covering 10 mosques, including the historic Jama Masjid, with plastic and tarpaulin sheets.
This year, Holi coincides with Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramzan.
The latest move comes as a precautionary measure after Yogi Adityanath backed Sambhal cop who asked Muslims to stay indoors on Holi
Let’s take a closer look.
Covering mosques with tarpaulin sheets
The Rangbhari Ekadashi festivities in Sambhal marked the official start of the Holi celebrations.
It is observed for five days before the main festive celebrations on Friday.
Ten mosques are reportedly being covered because they are on the route of a Holi procession on March 14.
The decision was made to make sure that both religious events go ahead without a hitch, district and police authorities said, according to India Today.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Sambhal's Jama Masjid being covered with Tarpaulin sheet ahead of Holi festival as per the decision of the local administration pic.twitter.com/cMIW0cV8mF
— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2025
Additional Superintendent of Police (AP) Shrishchandra told the broadcaster that religious sites along the traditional route of the Holi procession would remain covered after an agreement was reached between both communities.
Reacting to the development, Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq questioned the need to cover the religious sites while praising the move.
“I would say it is a good thing that they have covered them, but why was there a need for the police to do so? I would tell the police administration that they have made this arrangement to ensure Holi is celebrated peacefully," Barq said, as per IANS.
Increased security
To guarantee that both events are carried out peacefully, Sambhal’s local government has strengthened security and made other preparations.
According to Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vandna Mishra, about 1,015 people were detained by the UP Police in order to prevent any possible unrest.
“Lekhpals have been put on duty at different masjids in Sambhal. The district has been divided into sectors. We are fully prepared for Holi and will make sure it goes peacefully,” she told ANI.
Detailing the arrangements, Sambhal DM Rajendra Pensia said, “The procession of fairs will be taken out tomorrow. The total number of fairs is 16. We held peace committee meetings in every locality and village and two committee meetings at the district level.”
“We have formed 27 quick response teams. We have created six zones and 29 sectors and deployed magistrates and police officers in each one… SHOs of every police station and all magistrates have been asked to patrol the hotspots. PAC battalions have been deployed for three-tier security as before… 250 CCTV cameras have been installed, and with the municipality’s help, 100-150 additional CCTVs are installed during every festival. Surveillance has been done with drones once and will be done once more. A flag march was conducted under the leadership of the DIG,” he added.
‘Only one day for Holi’ controversy
Earlier this week, a row erupted when Anuj Kumar Chaudhary, a senior Sambhal police official, “advised” Muslims to stay indoors during Holi, which is observed only once a year.
He made these remarks during a peace committee meeting on March 6.
“We have requested from the Muslim community that if they cannot accept being coloured, then they should not come to the place where Holi is being celebrated. There are 52 ‘Jumma’ (Fridays) in a year, but only one day for Holi. Hindus wait for Holi the whole year, just like Muslims wait for Eid. We have given a direct message that when people play Holi, and if they (Muslims) don’t want colours to fall on them, then they should stay at home. And if they want to go out of their house, then they should be big-hearted enough not to object if colour falls on them,” the officer said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath backed the comments, according to India Today.
“It is true that Friday namaz happens every week while Holi comes once in a year. I thank those who announced that Holi should be celebrated until 2 pm, followed by Friday namaz. Many Muslim clerics have also appealed for the acceptance of this arrangement. Also, Friday namaz can be postponed; it is not a compulsion. But if they (Muslims) still want to pray, they can do so at home. They don’t need to go to the masjid,” Adityanath said at the channel’s conclave.
Likewise, BJP leader Raghuraj Singh proposed on Tuesday that Muslim men wear tarpaulin hijabs to prevent trouble during Holi festivities.
Additionally, the mayor of Darbhanga, Bihar, caused uproar when he proposed a two-hour pause for Friday prayers, or jumma, during Holi festivities.
Simmering tensions in Sambhal
The Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal is embroiled in a court battle after Hindu petitioners claimed that it was built on the grounds of the Hari Mandir, a Hindu shrine.
Since last November, when a court ordered a survey of the Jama Masjid due to the allegations, tension has been simmering even more.
Five people were killed and more than 20 police officers were injured when protests against the poll escalated into widespread violence.
On Wednesday, CM Adityanath invoked Vedic scriptures to back his claims that Sambhal place predates Islam.
“Sambhal is a teerth (pilgrimage) site and has been mentioned in scriptures that are 5,000 years old. Puranas contain references to Lord Vishnu’s future incarnation. It is said in Puranas that the 10th avatar of Lord Vishnu would take birth in Sambhal. Islam, on the other hand, emerged only 1,400 years ago. I am talking about something that predates Islam by at least 2,000 years,” he said, speaking at an event in Lucknow.
With inputs from agencies
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