ALIGARH: The district administration on Wednesday covered the decades-old Sabji Mandi

with a cloth in the communally-sensitive

city. The authorities said the move was in line with UP chief minister

's last year's directions to all district officials that, if required, all religious places should be covered with cloth so that

colours could not be thrown on these.

Such incidents in the past have led to tensions between communities here. This particular mosque in the area, which has a mixed population, was covered ahead of last year's Holi too.

Superintendent of police (SP), city, Abhishek said the area is communally sensitive as people from two communities live here. "To avoid any kind of communal clash on Holi, the mosque has been covered like it was done last year," he said, adding that police force has also been deployed in sensitive areas and flag marches are also being conducted to avoid any communal flare up, ahead of the polls. A city resident, Majid, said it is a good step for maintaining peace in the city.

"Generally, people, specially children, throw balloons; and a small incident could trigger communal tensions here," he added. BSP councillor Musharaff Husain Mazhar, however, raised the questions to cover the mosque, saying no purpose will be served. "Is the government trying to prove that Hindus create tensions by targeting religious places of another community during festivals," he said.

Mazhar said he would speak to the administration as such steps create divisions between the two communities. "We also celebrate Holi and

with our

brothers, then why this divide is being created by the government," he added.

Last year, during video conferencing, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had directed district administrations to maintain law and order and ensure peace and harmony during Holi celebrations. The CM specifically pointed out that utmost care should be taken to ensure that no one vitiates the atmosphere. The CM had also stated that if there was any trouble in any district, senior officials would be directly held responsible.