After Mankhurd, Mumbai Police top brass turn to mohalla committees to ensure communal harmony

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AMID reports of communal flare-ups from across the country, including Mumbai, on Sunday, the police top brass on Monday asked its officers to hold meetings of the Peace and Mohalla committees. Considering that Dr Ambedkar Jayanti, Good Friday and Hanuman Jayanti fall this week, the department wants to ensure that there is absolute harmony among the communities in the city.

Senior inspectors of all police stations were told to convey to community leaders that peace should be maintained during processions and that no untoward incident should happen during celebrations. On Sunday night, tension mounted between communities after some miscreants threw stones and broke glasses of vehicles at Mankhurd. The incident resulted in 20 to 25 vehicles getting damaged. Sources said top police officers took a serious view of the violence and asked their juniors to hold Peace and Mohalla committee meetings in their jurisdictions.

Following the communal riots of 1992, the Peace and Mohalla committees were formed to promote harmony among communities. The committees comprise people from all religions. "The Ramzan month is going on, plus this week there will be Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti, Hanuman Jayanti and Good Friday-Easter Sunday as well. Due to the pandemic, no festival was celebrated but it won't be the case this time," said a senior police officer. "Therefore, top cops have instructed all additional and deputy commissioners to make sure there are dialogues with community members."

On Monday, a message was sent to all the additional and deputy commissioners to make sure that meetings were held at police stations as well as at the zonal level. They were told to send reports on the Peace and Mohalla committee meetings to the police commissioner's office by Tuesday morning. "As festivals are happening this week, we are asking all the members of committees to maintain law and order and harmony among the communities. We have also asked the members to pass on the message to communities to be vigilant as some anti-social elements may try to create tension," said a senior inspector from the western region requesting anonymity.