Ayodhya turns fortress ahead of verdict

Even as the verdict on the Ayodhya title suits to be pronounced by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court got deferred on Thursday, security has been stepped up further at important installations across the state.

Additional companies of Central Reserved Police Force have been deployed in and around the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court and a heavy contingent of police led by senior officers carried out an inspection late Wednesday night, officials said in Lucknow.

Parking stand outside the high court and Collectorate premises has been removed and as a precautionary measure operations from Kaisarbagh bus stand would remain suspended from 6 am to 6 pm on Thursday.

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Close circuit televisions have been installed at all gates of the Lucknow bench.

The security at both Allahabad and Lucknow bench of the HC has been stepped up keeping in view of the judgment on Friday, sources said.

For security of Lucknow bench of the High Court, a Superintendent of Police, six Additional SP, 22 Deputy SP, 144 sub inspectors, 104 head constables, 807 constables and two companies of PAC (about 200 personnel) have been deployed.

This is in addition to central forces like CRPF and RAF, they said.

Similarly, for Allahabad HC, two ASPs, 16 DSPs, six inspectors, 30 sub-inspectors, 200 constables, four companies of PAC has been deployed.

On the administrative front, six additional district magistrates and 20 SDMs have been posted in Lucknow, while an ADM and 15 SDMs have been posted in Allahabad to keep an eye on the situation.

Security of the three high court judges had already been beefed up in view of the Ayodhya verdict.

"One platoon of PAC (about 20 personnel), five CRPF personnel have been deployed at the residence of all the three judges, an escort and pilot car and one PSO each have also been provided to them," a senior officer said.

A Deputy Superintendent of Police rank officer has been made incharge of the judges' security, he added.

Sources said that security had also been stepped in Ayodhya and Faizabad and the CRPF had been given charge of the disputed site.

Borders with adjoining Nepal and Uttarakhand have been sealed and a strict vigil was being maintained.

Strict vigil is being maintained on the border adjoining the neighbouring country to ward off anti-national elements from crossing over and creating any problem, IG Bareilly Gurbachan Lal said.

The security forces had already staged flag marches in all the sensitive places and districts, including Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura, in the state and prohibitory orders had been issued, sources said.

Police carried out an extensive checking drive at cyber cafes, shopping malls, public places, hotels and guest houses in Lucknow to check movement of anti-social elements.

Hospitals and para-medical staff have been put on alert and the government doctors have been directed not to leave their headquarters.