Protect thy neighbour, says UP police ahead of Ayodhya verdict

"Protect thy neighbour" is the new mantra of the Uttar Pradesh police to check any possible untoward situation in the aftermath of the verdict on the Ayodhya title suits slated to be pronounced on September 24.

Keeping in mind possibility of any trouble after the verdict is delivered on September 24, UP police is giving the responsibility of protecting the minorities to members of the majority community.

"An exercise has been carried out where members of both the communities depending on their population in the respective areas has been asked to pledge to protect each other," Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal told PTI.

He said the exercise was part of a special scheme to check communal tension and was being implemented for the first time in the state.

As a part of the exercise, registers have been prepared at police stations in sensitive areas through peace committees.

Members of majority community, irrespective of their religion, have been asked to give in writing that they will protect religious places and property of the minorities, sources said.

Fresh peace committees have been constituted at village and locality levels for keeping an eye on the situation and alert the force in case of trouble.

Senior police officers, including those at the headquarters, are in constant touch with village heads, local leaders and influential people of the area and taking their assistance.

A list of notorious persons has been prepared and those who had been involved in any anti-social activities or riots in the past are being nabbed.

The state police had already roped in government employees, teachers and retired personnel in every area to check occurrence of any anti-social activities with their support.

"A diary has been prepared in every district having number of credible and responsible persons of the area, who can help police," the officer said.

This diary will help the officers to call these persons and ask them to maintain communal harmony, he said.

The diary also includes names of local religious leaders, including maulanas and pujaris of temples and village heads, to issue appeals for maintenance of peace and communal harmony.