Don’t drive rashly on Shab-e-Barat: Police

MUMBAI: On the night of Tuesday when Muslims observed Shab-e-Barat (atonement), the police, like last year, appealed to all to maintain peace during the auspicious occasion.

The police was deployed at places such as Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Haji Ali, Mahalakshmi and the road leading to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. An additional 1,200 policemen were deployed.

There was particularly heavy police and traffic bandobast near Marine Lines and the Mazgaon graveyard.

The Haji Ali Dargah had made arrangements to welcome nearly two lakh people.

Sanjay Kadam, assistant commissioner of police (Bandra|division), urged youngsters not to race their vehicles or break traffic rules.

On the night of Shab-e-Barat (Badi Raat), the Muslim community prays in mosques and visits shrines and graveyards to seek forgiveness from departed souls. The devout believe that wishes are granted on this night. However, many youngsters, in the name of the festival, drive rashly on empty streets risking their own and others’ lives.

Last year, two 24-year-old Malad residents lost their lives in a bike accident near Haji Ali when their two-wheeler was run over by a speeding tanker. The two had left for the graveyard at Charni Road to pay respects to the dead as part of the Shab-e-Barat tradition.

Hamid Qureshi, a senior citizen staying at Bandra (west), said, “Several motorcycle-borne boys race on bikes to Sufi saints’ mosques, creating a ruckus, and sometimes meeting with accidents. We do not wish any harm on this day, and the youngsters should understand this.”