SECURITY TIGHTENED IN NUH, OTHER AREAS AFTER 'SHOBHA YATRA' CALL

Security arrangements have been stepped up in Haryana's Nuh and other areas following the Sarv Jatiya Hindu Mahapanchayat's call for a 'shobha yatra' on Monday, despite the authorities denying permission for the procession.

- VIPIN PARMAR

Officials said security personnel, including those from paramilitary forces, have been deployed to keep a strict vigil. Security at interstate and inter-district borders has also been tightened, they said. Permission has not been granted for the 'yatra', Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said in Panchkula on Sunday, referring to the Nuh violence that took place a few weeks earlier.

"Instead of the 'yatra', people can visit temples in their areas for jalabhishek'," he said, asserting that it is the state government's responsibility to maintain law and order. Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur said on Saturday that the administration had denied permission for the yatra due to a meeting of the G20 Sherpa Group, scheduled to be held in Nuh from September 3 to 7, and to maintain law and order in the aftermath of the July 31 violence.