Muharram 2025: UP DGP Says No To New Procession Routes, Issues Strict Warning Against Display of Weapons

The Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) has also issued strict instructions ahead of Muharram 2025. The DGP has banned starting any new route for Tazia and the display of weapons in the parade. According to the Deccan Herald on Dailyhunt, the move has been taken to prevent communal tension and ensure that strict law and order is maintained during the holy Islamic month.

These orders have been issued at a time when there is general sensitivity in the country regarding religious ceremonies. Their aim is to ensure that traditional routes are followed without any deviation. Police communications have instructed the law enforcement agencies to conduct peace committee meetings, check route maps, and send a sufficient number of police forces on some major Muharram dates, particularly on the 10th day – Ashura.

Why the Restrictions Were Imposed

The prohibition of new processional schedules and arms presentations, such as swords, spears, and other custom weapons, was imposed against the background of previous tensions year over year when new processional routes or illegal displays of force had resulted in violence and conflicts in some towns.

The DGP also stressed that no one will be allowed to disobey the orders, irrespective of their religious or political ideology. Intelligence monitoring, video surveillance, and drone surveillance will be deployed in vulnerable areas to ensure that they monitor any form of suspicious activity.

Public Reaction and Community Coordination

There has been a mixed reaction among the people concerning the strict measures to be imposed ahead of Muharram 2025. Although some religious organizations have already expressed their discontent about the restrictions, stating that the restrictions violate the traditional manifestations, there are a lot of other leaders and ordinary people in society who have embraced the step, and the reasons given by them lie in the fact that the need to ensure communal harmony and communal safety is always important.

Law enforcement agencies, especially the local police, have begun involving community elders and church organizers to explain the rationale behind the directives. Such outreach activities are to make sure that Muharram processions are carried out peacefully, the cultural sentiments are not offended and security and prevention of possible tensions should be considered.