According to reports, security has been stepped up at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar for Friday (23 January) with Basant Panchami falling on the same day.

• Given the sensitivity of the situation, nearly 8,000 police personnel, including those from the Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force, have been deployed throughout Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh.
• CCTV surveillance, foot and vehicle patrols, and social media activity are being closely tracked across the city.
• Ashok Jain, patron of the Bhoj Utsav Committee, stated that the ‘Akhand Puja’ (continuous prayers) will be held at the Bhojshala on Basant Panchami, with 30,000 to 50,000 devotees expected to participate.
• A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ruled that religious activities on Friday (23 January), will be split and the Hindu community will be permitted to perform prayers from sunrise to sunset while the Muslim community will be allowed to offer namaz (prayers) between 1300 hours and 1500 hours (local time).
• The Supreme Court also directed the Muslim community to provide a list of persons attending the prayers to the district administration in advance.