With a three-judge special bench of the Allahabad high court likely to deliver its verdict on the Ayodhya dispute by September-end, the Uttar Pradesh government sounded an alert on Monday.
Section 144, which prohibits assembly of people, has already been enforced in the holy city and security arrangements tightened. As many as 245 special police officers have been deployed to keep an eye on the situation in the twin cities of Ayodhya and Faizabad, and 54 spots have been identified as “sensitive”.
Chief minister Mayawati met governor BL Joshi on Monday and reportedly briefed him on the situation relating to Ayodhya.
In Faizabad, district magistrate MP Agarwal and district police chief RKS Rathore appealed to people to ignore rumours. “There is no need to fear… all steps are being taken to maintain law and order,” Agarwal told reporters.
He scotched speculation that curfew might be imposed in and around Ayodhya.
Ayodhya, Agarwal said, had been divided into sectors for better administrative control. He said riot control equipment was already in place.
District officials, sources said, were consulting Hindu and Muslim leaders to ensure there is no adverse fallout of the judgment, whichever way it goes.
