The Uttar Pradesh government has made it clear that those VHP leaders and activists who have been detained or arrested on Sunday will remain in custody until the yatra is called off.
Talking to reporters here on Sunday, IG (law and order) R.K. Vishwakarma said that security arrangements would continue to check those trying to attend the banned yatra. He said that all those arrested will be put in the judicial custody for next 14 days and would not be released as of now. Those who had been detained will also remain house-bound till the yatra is over.
The IG (law and order) said that tight security arrangements will continue in the state to prevent those trying to attend VHP yatra, which has not been recalled as yet. He informed that 1,696 persons, including Mr Ashok Singhal and Mr Pravin Togadia, have been arrested in the crackdown. The official said, “As per the programme, the yatra was scheduled to continue till September 13 and those arrested or detained cannot be released. Preventive detentions will continue and those trying to participate in the yatra will also be arrested.”
Since the VHP has announced state wide protests on Monday, all district police chiefs have been asked to remain alert and ensure that law and order is maintained.
In addition to the state police force, 11 company of RAF and 12 company of CRPF have been deployed in the state to maintain law and order.
Prominent among those arrested on Sunday include former union minister Swami Chinmayanand, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das of Ram Janambhoomi Trust, former MP Ram Vilas Vedanti, BJP MLAs Ram Chandra Yadav and Savatribai Phule and VHP’s provincial coordinator Acharya Kushmuni.