The step was taken after talks with religious leaders to maintain law and order, police officials said

A mosque has been covered with a tarpaulin sheet by the Masjid Intezamia Committee on the eve of the Holi festival, in Aligarh on March 24. | Photo Credit: ANI

By PTI

At least nine mosques in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh and Sambhal districts have been covered with tarpaulin sheets ahead of Holi to prevent them from being smeared with colours, police said on March 24.

The step was taken after talks with religious leaders to maintain law and order, police officials said.

In Aligarh, at least two mosques have been covered. One of them is Halwaaiyan mosque in the Sabzi Mandi area, and the other is located at Delhi Gate, Circle Officer (City) Abhay Pandey told reporters.

Mr. Pandey said that a flag march had been conducted in the sensitive areas with a message of peace, and police pickets had been set up in the old city areas.

In Sambhal, the district administration, in agreement with the Muslim community, has covered some mosques with tarpaulin sheets to avoid dispute.

This story was originally published in thehindu.com. Read the full story here.