Security alert ahead of Ayodhya verdict, Games

NEW DELHI - With just two days to go for the Ayodhya dispute verdict and 11 days for the Commonwealth Games (CWG), the central government has asked the states to keep extra vigil in communally-sensitive areas and locations frequented by foreigners.

“The next three weeks are important from the internal security point of view,” an official told IANS.

“The central government is in constant touch with the states and union territories about deployment of police and security personnel, especially in Uttar Pradesh where Ayodhya and several other Hindu sites are located,” he added.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram in a statement issued Wednesday reiterated the need for vigil. He said: “The state governments have been advised to take adequate measures to maintain law and order, especially in sensitive areas”.

“The central government has also taken a number of measures to assist the state governments,” he added.

Official sources said Home Secretary G.K. Pillai has been reviewing the security situation with senior officials of the ministry and the security agencies for the past few days.

Pillai had Tuesday said the “hour at which the judgment is delivered Sep 24 would be crucial in preventing any kind of law and order problems”.

Pillai described the Friday judgment as “more like a semi-final” as the losing side may approach the Supreme Court with an appeal.

The demolition of the 16th century Babri Masjid Dec 6, 1992 by Hindu radicals who believed that the mosque was built on the birthplace of Lord Ram had triggered nationwide riots.

Notwithstanding the hope expressed by the home minister and the home secretary that the judgement will be received peacefully, security agencies have alerted the state police against attempts to strike terror after the verdict or before the Games, a home ministry official said.

They have also mentioned the threat statement issued by the terrorist organisation Indian Mujahideen, soon after two Taiwanese tourists were injured in a shooting incident outside Jamia Masjid Sunday.

Police and security personnel have been specially urged to keep a vigil at Metro stations, railway stations, trains, bus depots, airports, harbours, hotels and other locations to be frequented by foreigners, the official said.

Para-military forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been readied to be moved to any sensitive place on short notice after the Ayodhya verdict.

“The largest security personnel deployment is being done in Uttar Pardesh. Close to 160,000 state police personnel and nearly 10,000 para-military personnel will be on the roads Friday,” the official added.