Children will participate in Muharram procession but will not inflict injuries with weapons

After convening a meeting with Muslim clerics of the Shia sect, the additional police commissioner of south region today informed the Bombay High Court that instead of real weapons like blades, swords, knifes, etc, other objects will be used by children participating in Muharram procession this year.

In this very meeting held on July 21, it was decided that children will not injure themselves by sharp weapons and various precautions will be taken for safety of children during Muharram. This came after a Bombay High Court division bench of Justice R M Savant and Justice Sadhna Jadhav had red-flagged the presence of children in the procession where people inflict injuries on themselves and pictures of bleeding bodies emerge year after year.

In the meeting, all members of Shia Sect decided that all precautionary measures will be adopted during Muharram and all members of the Shia Sect ie All India Idara-e-Tahafuz-e-Hussainaith assured the Muharram procession will be performed peacefully.

They discussed and agreed upon that minors will not be allowed to carry out weapon or other sharp objects in the procession. Minors will not be forced to injure themselves while participating in the procession. Nobody else in the procession shall injure children participating in the Muharram. The co-operation of members of Shia Sect will be given as and when necessary. Precautionary measures shall be taken in Muharram and law and order will be maintained during the processions and that it will be videographed from start to end.

Muslims regard Muharram as the month of mourning, commemorating the Battle of Karbala and a procession is taken out with men from the community participating in self flagellation.

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