Ayodhya security beefed up for 27th Babri Masjid razing day

Ayodhya: Security has been stepped up for the 27th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid on Friday, declared as the most sensitive day after the November 9 when the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the Ayodhya case.

To prevent any untoward incident and deploy security forces, the district has been divided into four security zones, 10 security sectors and 14 sub-security sectors.

The RamKot area in the city, where the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site is located, has been almost locked down.

Ayodhya District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha told IANS that there would be no traditional programmes of either community to mark the demolition of the mosque.

Ayodhya SSP Ashish Tiwari told IANS, five additional SPs, 10 DSPs and and 15 Inspectors had been deployed to man the security divisions. Nine companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 29 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) had been roped in the security details, he added.

According to Tiwari, 17 inter-district barriers have been activated with postings of sub-inspectors and police personnel. Traffic diversions had been put in place from the borders of Barabanki, Gonda, Balrampur, Ambedkarnagar, Sultanpur, Amethi and Raibarely, he said.

The administration have set up five arresting parties and 10 temporary jails in Ayodhya. The police pickets have been deployed on 269 points having mixed populations of Hindus and Muslims and actions have been taken against 305 ‘trouble makers’.