'No namaz on roads and rooftops': Sambhal administration issues guidelines for Alvida Juma and Eid prayers

BAREILLY: The Alvida Juma and Eidgah prayers will not be conducted on the streets, nor will prayers be offered on rooftops. The govt guidelines regarding loudspeakers must also be followed. On Wednesday, a peace committee meeting was held at Sadar Kotwali under the leadership of Additional SP Shrish Chandra, SDM Dr Vandana Mishra, and Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary, where an appeal was made to celebrate the festivals peacefully and with harmony. Similar guidelines have been issued for other districts in UP.ASP Shrish Chandra said, "A peace committee meeting was held in Kotwali Sambhalwith people from all religions and communities. It was clearly communicated and ensured that prayers will be conducted inside mosques and Eidgah only, and not on the streets outside. Issues related to electricity and water were also addressed and will be resolved in time. Compliance with the rules was also emphasised. The zonal sector arrangement remains in place as before, and an adequate police force will be deployed.It will be ensured that prayers are not conducted on rooftops."SDM Dr Vandana Mishra said, "Those who raised issues related to electricity and water during the peace committee meeting have been directed to the concerned departments. Permission for loudspeakers has not been granted."During Holi, Sambhal CO Anuj Chaudhary made a statement saying that Holi comes once a year, while Juma occurs 52 times a year. This statement became a topic of discussion nationwide. Regarding his statement, he mentioned that if he spoke wrongly, those opposing should have approached the high court or Supreme Court. He said that he spoke equally for both religions. He also said that brotherhood diminishes when one side is eating sweets like gujiya or seviyan and the other is not. He mentioned that if you want to offer seviyan for Eid, you should also accept our sweets.Notably, the Alvida Juma prayer is on March 28, and the Navratras will begin on March 30, and the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr is on March 31. Few people requested the use of loudspeakers as per the schedule, and appropriate action was communicated regarding this.