Ayodhya turns fortress on Babri Day

Ayodhya: Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the district administration in view of various organisations deciding to observe the 14th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Wednesday.

While the VHP and Shiv Sena have announced that the day would be observed as Shaurya Diwas (Victory Day), some Muslim organisations would be observing Yaum-e-Gam (Day of Sorrow) on Wednesday.

Civil police, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and intelligence sleuths have been deployed at all important places, Superintendent of Police (City) B D Shukla said.

All vehicles entering the twin cities of Ayodhya and Faizabad were being thoroughly checked while special vigil was being maintained at temples, hotels, dharmshalas, bus stations and railway stations, he said, adding that a demand has been made for eight additional companies of PAC to further step up security.

Security has also been tightened in the Ram Janambhoomi complex and District Magistrate Amod Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar Gupta personally inspected the arrangements, Shukla said.

In Varanasi, security arrangements have been put in place in the district and adjoining areas with the police being put on alert and patrolling intensified.

Muslim organisations like Aalmin Society have announced that shops and business establishments owned by the minority community would down shutters on Wednesday to mark a 'Black Day'. The minority outfit would also stage a dharna in Shivala locality, its president Parvez Qadir Khan said.

The Sangh Parivar organisations and the Shiv Sena have, on the other hand, decided to observe the occasion as Shaurya Diwas and take out victory processions in the city. The state government has already alerted all the district magistrates, divisional commissioners and SPs, asking them to initiate all possible measures to maintain communal harmony.

Home secretary Arun Kumar Singh said in an official release that instructions had been issued in this regard and all the officers had been asked to ensure strict vigil in sensitive areas in the state.