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Ayodhya on high alert for Babri anniversary

The Faizabad district administration has taken strict measures to ensure the security of the disputed site of the Ramjanmabhoomi to ensure that the seventh anniversary of the demolition of Babri masjid passes without any untoward incident.

The District Magistrate Navneet Sehgal said that the situation was normal today in the district but the administration was taking no chances and had gone in for additional security measures in and around the site in view of various programmes proposed by different organisations to mark the anniversary.

Kar sevaks had razed the over 450-year-old mosque on December 6, 1992 and the property since then has been under the Centre. The title suits over the ownership of the land is being heard by a special three-judge bench of the Allahabad high court.

The DM said that there was no apprehension of any untoward incident. The security forces had been directed to take extra precautions following Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta's announcement yesterday that there was no question of allowing any new tradition at the disputed site and whosoever tried to disturb the peace would be dealt with firmly.

Sehgal said a dog squad had been pressed into service and every devotee would be allowed to enter the complex only after a thorough check. However there will be no restriction for darshan tomorrow, he added.

The district magistrate said that the entry of persons whose presence may lead to trouble was being banned in the district and a border check post was maintaining a strict vigil on people coming from the direction of Lucknow. Special barricades had also been erected to check infiltration of undesirable elements into the district.

Suspended Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kalyan Singh may take part in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal-sponsored programme to celebrate the anniversary as shourya diwas.

Organisations such as the Hindu Shiv Sena and the Islamic Movement of India, almost non-existent in the area, had also announced that they would be trying to stage programmes within the disputed area, but the DM said that people were also approached individually in an effort to maintain peace.

The Ayodhya area had been divided into three zones and twelve sectors. Every zone was being supervised by senior officials of the rank of additional district magistrate and additional superintendent of police.

The DM said two companies of the Rapid Action Force and eleven companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary had been deployed in the district to aid the administration in maintaining peace. There would also be additional deployment of four ASPs, 12 DSPs, ten inspectors and over 100 sub-inspectors besides 40 head constables and 450 constables.

A control room to monitor the situation would also be set up, he added.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Shiv Sena secretary Anil Kalia has been taken into custody by the district police.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajesh Yadav said that Kalia was detained for interrogation. He refused to divulge details.

It is understood that Kalia was taken into custody as a precautionary measure. The administration also refused to reveal his whereabouts or when he was nabbed.

UNI

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