Gandhinagar, June 26 (IANS) Muharram was observed peacefully across Gujarat on Friday, with large gatherings reported in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and several other districts, as traditional Tazia processions were held under tight security.

In Ahmedabad, processions passed through designated routes in the old city amid heavy police deployment and traffic diversions.

Authorities implemented barricading at sensitive junctions, while surveillance was strengthened using CCTV systems and drone monitoring to ensure crowd management and route discipline.

Surat witnessed organised processions beginning from approved localities, with organisers strictly adhering to guidelines on route movement and Tazia specifications.

More than 7,000 security personnel have been deployed across the city, while drones and CCTV cameras are being used to closely monitor every movement.

Vadodara and Rajkot also reported peaceful processions, with additional police deployed in sensitive pockets and major intersections to manage gatherings and ensure the smooth passage of religious activities.

Senior officers supervised arrangements on the ground. Statewide, Gujarat Police had activated a comprehensive security plan ahead of Muharram.

According to official inputs, 919 sensitive locations across the state were identified for heightened surveillance, risk assessment and preventive policing measures.

A high-level review meeting was held earlier this week at Police Bhavan, chaired by the Director General of Police (DGP), G.S. Malik, with all Police Commissioners, Range Heads, and District Superintendents joining virtually to review preparedness.

During the meeting, officers were directed to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance patrolling in sensitive areas, and ensure coordinated deployment along procession routes.

The DGP instructed district units to conduct risk assessments in localities with past incidents during Muharram and to maintain real-time monitoring through technological support.

Security arrangements included deployment of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) units, local police, and rapid response teams at strategic points.

Officials said the coordinated policing model, combined with cooperation from organisers and community representatives, ensured that Muharram processions across Gujarat concluded peacefully without any major incident.

–IANS

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