The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to administrative and police officials in all districts and various organisations which hold Muharram processions, requesting them to ensure that children participating in such marches on July 29 do not carry weapons.

The letter also requests that announcements be made after the Friday prayers on July 28, appealing to the organisers to discourage children from carrying arms in the processions.

According to a press release issued by the commission, the letter has been sent to “all District Magistrates, Superintendents of police, Commissionerates of particular districts, district Imams, the State General Secretary of All Bengal Imam, Muazzin Association & charitable trust as well as the Chairperson, Board of Waqf under the Minority Affairs & Madrasah Education Department”.

“Tomorrow, being a Friday, the announcement with regard to the above may be done after the Friday prayers or after ‘Qutba’, as deemed fit and proper,” read a copy of the letter addressed to the state general secretary of an association.

“I am also directed to request you to ensure that prior to holding of the said procession notices, banners, pamphlets or any other kind of campaigning materials may be distributed among the members of the public to create awareness. It may also be done by announcements,” the letter, undersigned by an assistant secretary of the commission, read.

The issue of children carrying arms during Muharram processions has been an oft-debated topic. In 2018, the Trinamul Congress — through then MP Idris Ali — had urged the community to avoid children with arms in the marches. "This is something we have been trying to do for the past few years. We send out similar appeals before Ram Navami processions as well," Sudeshna Roy, the chairperson of the commission, told this newspaper.