Over 4,600 cops to guard 350 processions in Hyderabad

Police to seal route of main Ashura procession with barbed wire

HYDERABAD:

More than 350 large and small mourning processions are scheduled to be taken out in Hyderabad on Youm-e-Ashura on July 17 to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in Karbala. Police will deploy over 4,600 officers to ensure the security of the processions, Majalis, and Tazia processions, according to its spokesperson Awais Rajput.

The main procession organised by Anjuman-e-Imamia Sindh will be protected by 1,400 personnel, with an additional 1,500 policemen assigned to other processions. For the main procession, authorities will enforce a single entrance and exit, starting from Qadam Gah Moula Ali (RA) in the morning and concluding at Karbala Dadan Shah in the evening. The procession will pass through its historic path, including Station Road and Rahim Shopping Centre road.

Dozens of processions from various parts of the city will merge into the main procession, which will be monitored via several CCTV cameras at the City police station control room. Barbed wire will seal all streets intersecting the main procession route.

Participants of the procession will pass through seven walkthrough gates near Bacha Khan Chowk for security. Seven hundred policemen will be assigned to safeguard the central tazia procession, while an additional 600 will be stationed at Imambargahs for the Sham-e-Ghareeban events.

In total, 900 officers will man entry and exit points of Hyderabad, with pickets stationed at crucial roads and intersections. A 100-strong Quick Response Force (QRF) will remain on high alert to respond to any emergencies. An additional 150 personnel will be on standby, complemented by patrols from the Emergency Police and Anti-Terrorist Force comprising 15 units.