Both worship and namaz allowed at Bhojshala, Supreme Court delivers historic verdict, tight security arrangements

Dhar (The Uttam Hindu): Basant Panchami falls on Friday this year, making it a sensitive day for Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, where Saraswati worship and Friday namaz are scheduled on the same day. In view of the situation, the administration has made extensive security arrangements and deployed a heavy police force.

Bhojshala has remained a subject of dispute for a long time. Hindus consider it a Saraswati temple and perform worship, while the Muslim community regards it as the Kamal Maula mosque and offers namaz. As per existing practice, Hindus are allowed to worship on Tuesdays and Muslims are permitted to offer namaz on Fridays. However, with Basant Panchami coinciding with Friday this year, tensions increased.

The Supreme Court has allowed both communities to perform their respective religious activities on the same day, with specific time slots fixed for worship and namaz. Considering the importance of Basant Panchami and Friday prayers, the administration has treated the situation as a major challenge and implemented special security measures.

Collector and District Magistrate Priyank Mishra has issued several prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to maintain peace, law and order, and communal harmony. A no-fly zone has been declared within a 300-metre radius of Bhojshala on Basant Panchami. All aerial activities such as drones, paragliding, hot air balloons, unmanned aerial vehicles, or any flying objects are strictly prohibited.

Restrictions have also been imposed on keeping construction material, debris, tyres, and abandoned kiosks on public roads and places in Dhar municipal limits. Any violation will lead to seizure of such material by the municipal council. Another order states that people entering Bhojshala from either community will be allowed to carry only worship material, rice grains, and flowers. Items such as mobile phones, bags, cameras, and water bottles will not be permitted without prior approval.

Carrying deadly weapons like knives, swords, sticks, or firearms, as well as explosive materials such as grenades or bombs, has been strictly banned. A total of 6,461 police personnel have been deployed in Dhar, including senior officers, inspectors, sub-inspectors, constables, and 933 women personnel. Eight RAF platoons have also been stationed, and an additional 1,500 to 2,000 police personnel are expected.

The entire city is under close surveillance using around 20 drones, artificial intelligence-based crowd management systems, and nearly 1,000 CCTV cameras. Three-dimensional mapping of the area has been carried out, while 40 bike patrol teams and 30 mobile units are continuously monitoring the situation.