Security plan in Karbala with 15,000 policemen for pilgrimage

KARBALA / IraqiNews.com: Security forces in Karbala on Sunday launched a security plan involving the deployment of 15,000 policemen in the holy Shiite city for the Imam al-Hussein’s arbaeen on February 15, according to the province’s police information chief. “The plan started as of today (Jan. 24) as pilgrims have begun flowing into the city,” Maj. Alaa Abbas told IraqiNews.com news agency. “This number could be increased to 25,000 security personnel while more police and army troops from neighboring Iraqi provinces will take part in the plan on the fringes of the city,” Abbas added. The arbaeen pilgrimage is a religious occasion marking the 40th day after the death of Imam al-Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson and the third holiest figure for Shiite Muslims, in the battle of Taf in Karbala in the Hijri year 61 (680 in the Gregorian calendar). Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from inside and outside Iraq will be flowing on foot into the city for the holy rituals. Karbala, said to be housing the tombs of Imam al-Hussein and his brother Imam al-Abbas, lies 130 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. AmR (P)/SR 1