Ahead of the celebration of Eid al-Adha, also known as Eid-ul-Azha or Bakrid, the Tripura Police on Wednesday organized peace meetings in mixed-population areas across the state in coordination with mosque management committees to ensure peaceful observance of the festival.
Sources said the meetings assumed significance in view of protests and rallies organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal in different parts of the state ahead of Eid celebrations. The initiative by the police is aimed at maintaining peace, communal harmony, and law and order during the festival.
Meanwhile, members of the district committees of VHP and Bajrang Dal carried out campaigns in bordering towns such as Khowai and Dharmanagar on Wednesday morning, urging people not to slaughter cows during Eid celebrations.
District-level leaders of both organizations participated in the campaign, which was conducted in several subdivisions across the state.
Speaking after the programme in Khowai, district committee secretary Saptadwip Acharya claimed that the Quran does not specifically mention cow slaughter during Eid. He further stated that since only a small number of Muslim families reside in certain areas of Khowai subdivision, the organizations appealed to community members there to refrain from cow slaughter during the festival.
The campaign drew attention in the area ahead of the religious festival, while police and administrative authorities are expected to remain on alert to ensure communal harmony and prevent any untoward incidents during Eid celebrations.