A controversy was nipped in bud right on the spur of the moment in the Saturday peace committee meeting held on March 17 evening in the Daltonganj town police station where one member each of the two communities was about to indulge in allegation counter allegation. Soon on the instructions of SP Indrajeet Mahatha attending this peace committee meeting Inspector Tarun Kumar stood on his feet and asked the two members to calm down. It had had its salutary effect immediately. The peace warriors were asked to work for calmer days during this festival.
The member of one community had said that Ramnavmi procession takes 12 hours to pass through Muslim dominated areas which was very strongly rebutted by member of another community who said quite angrily that Muharram processions too goes on till late at night. The war of words was silenced but the SP sitting there did not miss to understand this undercurrent of discontent between the two communities even in this meeting called for peace!
A senior lawyer is said to have made some ‘loose talk’ after this meeting who had to incur the displeasure of the SP in full public view. later SP Mahatha told The Pioneer that in a situation like this when all are striving for peace and harmony during festivals there remains hardly any room for loose talk.
Sources said apart from these unpleasant situations the peace committee meeting was impressive wherein the attendance of the peace warriors drawn from all sections of the society including more than half a dozen well known faces of women concluded on the vows and oaths to maintain peace and harmony.
The SP then went on giving details of measures for the peaceful and harmonious conduct of the Ramnavmi festival. What he said disturbed a few but comforted many on both the sides. More than 215 people are under watch of police he said. 212 magistrates and police officers in Palamu will oversee this festival. There will be a camp jail in town thana premise where drunkard will be lodged. Youths having spiked hair cuts are more under police watch added SP who further said there will be Team Bharosa an all lady police patrol cars for the safety convenience and security of women and girls in this festival.
The SP then dropped one major pronouncement when he said that 12 songs which are provocative and intend to cause hurt to religious sentiments to people of other faith are prohibited and cannot be played and those doing this will be punished without failing.
Mahatha further said playing DJ is also banned and those who will use it will have to face music than that of DJ! All licensed routes of processions are to be verified physically by police and civil officials.
Three police control rooms are already working one each at Daltonganj, Chhaterpur and Hussainabad.