Mumbai: To avert any tragedy or mishap on Shab-e-Bara’at eve this year, Mumbai Police and traffic police had deployed personnel at various sensitive areas of the city – Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Bada Kabrastan at Marine Lines, Haji Ali, Mahalakshmi and other shrines. Police also appealed to the public to refrain from rash driving and observe the event peacefully. At Bada Kabrastan, metal and wooden barricades were set up for the convenience of visitors and vendors selling flowers, chadar and incense, with the help of community volunteers.
An NGO, Jai Ho Foundation, had also volunteered to help police maintain law and order. Advocate Adil Khatri, general secretary of the foundation, said, “This is the fourth year that volunteers are helping police. It has been observed on Shab-e-Bara’at, many traffic rules are violated. We work with police to minimise traffic disruptions and check on bike stunts. Sometimes, when police intercept a young biker for a traffic violation, they take it personally. At this point, we act as middlemen and try to sort out differences civilly.”
Over 2,500 policemen were deployed to take precautionary measures and keep an eye out for young bikers who were speeding, riding helmetless and triple-seated. “Police and traffic bandobast has also been fortified near Marine Lines and Mazgaon graveyards, areas which see a large footfall. Haji Ali dargah has also made arrangements to welcome approximately two lakh people,” said Amitesh Kumar, joint comissioner of police (traffic). Shab-e-Bara’at (Badi Raat) is a night of prayer when Muslims visit the graves of their forefathers, seeking forgiveness and their blessings. In 2017, two men from Malad, Mohsin and Farhan, both 24, were killed after their bike collided with a speeding truck as they were proceeding to Bada Kabrastan.
