Central forces on standby at strategic locations
The Centre is keeping teams of Central forces on stand-by at eight to ten strategic locations across the country to be dispatched immediately to deal with any law and order problem that may arise after the court verdict on Ayodhya title suits on Friday. The home ministry has identified 32 sensitive locations across the country — four of them in Uttar Pradesh — where there is a potential to "evoke sharp reactions" following the verdict and asked concerned states to be fully alert there. Apart from 40 companies (4,000 personnel) of Central forces to be deployed in Uttar Pradesh, the government has sent additional 12 companies (1,200 personnel) of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to be deployed in ‘’ sensitive’’ locations within the state. A high level review meeting was held in the home ministry to study the security scenario ahead of the Ayodhya court verdict.
The government has asked all states, particularly sensitive Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka, to give "top most priority" in beefing up security to deal with any law and order problems. The Mayawati government had demanded 63,000 paramilitary personnel to deal with any situation arising out of the Allahabad high court verdict, but the home ministry feels that 5,200 armed guards, including RAF, for deployment in UP are enough. The ministry is of the view that by and large the law and order situation will remain under control, sources said. "The media will not be allowed within the premises of the court complex and a separate media enclosure will be set up in the district magistrate’s complex which is situated across the road," an official said.
The home ministry has already prepared a contingency plan to deal with any situation arising out of the court judgement. In an advisory, the home ministry has asked all states and Union Territories to give "topmost priority" to maintaining law and order as the judgement has the potential to "evoke sharp reactions". In its communication, the ministry also informed states and UTs of the activities of various religious groups which have already announced country-wide mass mobilisation and awareness campaign in view of the forthcoming court verdict. Maintaining that the court verdict "is likely to evoke sharp reactions and communal passions among both Hindus and Muslims depending on the way the judgement goes," the ministry has asked states and UTs to keep a close watch on activities of religious bodies.
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