BHOPAL: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, before leaving for his foreign tour on Monday, convened a meeting of top Police officers, where he instructed them that communal peace should be maintained at any cost in the state during ‘Moharram’ and ‘Durga Visarnjan’.

Durga Visarjan (immersion of idols of Goddess Durga) would take place in the night of October 23 in the state. Moharram would be observed on October 24 and a procession would be taken out a day before by Muslim community.

With the two occasions coinciding, Chauhan, concerned about maintenance of communal harmony, directed Police officers to hold meetings with eminent members of both the communities. He instructed to ensure that the processions of both the communities take different routes. He asked them to ensure to finalise the routes of processions by holding meetings with community leaders and convincing them. Chauhan asked DGP Surendra Sinh and Special DG (Intelligence) Sarabjeet Singh to coordinate in this matter.

He also directed to instruct all Collectors and SPs to make sure that meetings with both the communities are held.