Ayodhya Case: Security Beefed Up In View Of Final SC Hearing, Deepotsav

The prohibitory orders under section 144 will continue till December 10, officials said.

Image: PTI

New Delhi: As two major events including the Supreme Court hearing on Ayodhya dispute and the Deepotsav festival are ready to unfold, security arrangements have been beefed up Ayodhya. Additional police force have been deployed in the Uttar Pradesh city and demand for more police force from three zones along with PAC has been raised. The demand for additional force from Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, and Varanasi zone has been raised. Along with zonal force, CBCID, Anti Corruption, EOW and PAC forces will also be deployed. For security arrangements ahead of the much anticipated Deepotsav festival on the occasion of Diwali on October 19, 7 additional SPs, 20 CO, 20 inspectors, 70 sub-inspectors, 500 constables and 7 company PAC will be deployed. Central Paramilitary Force troops shall also be deployed in Ayodhya in view of the grand celebration which will take place on Deepotsav. ATS Commando team, STF and ATS’ surveillance team will also keep an eye on the programme. On Monday, Prohibitory orders under section 144 were clamped in Ayodhya ahead of the Supreme Court's revised deadline for wrapping up the proceedings in the sensitive Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case. The prohibitory orders will continue till December 10, officials said. Posting the order on his official Twitter account, District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said,"The order has been issued considering safety and security of Ayodhya and those visiting here as Govt's paramount concerns." Section 144 prohibits assembly of four or more people and empowers the police to book people for rioting.