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34 arrested in Ayodhya as pre-emptive measure

As many as 34 people, 14 from the Shiv Sena and 20 from the Ali Sena, were arrested today on the apprehension of breach of peace on the seventh anniversary of the Babri masjid demolition.

Superintendent of Police (city) Rakesh Shankar said that these activists had indulged in raising provocative slogans. They were taken into custody from two places in Ayodhya.

The Shiv Sena activists, all of them belonging to Basti district, were proceeding towards the disputed site after taking bath in the Sarayu river. They were shouting slogans about the temple construction when intercepted by the police, he added.

The Ali Sena activists, who had announced to offer namaz at the Babri site, were rounded up from the Chakrateerth area behind the disputed site. These activists, from Aligarh and Delhi, were going to the disputed site in a vehicle, he said.

The police are searching for the self-styled president of the Ali Sena M S Chand and state president of the Shiv Sena Santosh Dabe. Both of them had been causing problems for the administration for the past three years.

The district police has already arrested Shiv Sena state secretary Anil Kalia and district president of the Students Islamic Movement of India Zameer Ahmad Khan yesterday as a precautionary measure.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the district police and the Rapid Action Force was deployed at sensitive spots. Senior district and police officials are maintaining constant vigil.

Most of the shops and business establishments belonging to the Muslim community remained closed today in protest against the demolition of the Babri structure on December 6, 1992.

Shahbuddin, a businessman, said the community would pray for the reconstruction of the Babri mosque in the afternoon namaz and keep their establishments closed in the memory of those who were killed on that fateful day.

Check posts have been erected on all the important roads leading to Ayodhya and vehicles were being checked at many points since yesterday.

An additional posse of security personnel has been deployed in and around the disputed structure and the devotees, who were coming for the darshan of Ram lala, had to undergo strict checking.

Meanwhile, the preparations for the shaurya diwas (valour day) celebrations were in progress.

Otherwise, the district witnessed normal activity with all the schools and colleges functioning.

No untoward incident has been reported so far.

UNI

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