Ayodhya verdict: CJI meets UP chief secy, DGP
SEVERAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN AYODHYA WITH DRONES BEING USED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AHEAD OF THE JUDGMENT IN RAMJANMABHOOMIBABRI MASJID LAND DISPUTE CASE
NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Friday held a meeting with Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and director general of police and took stock of security arrangements ahead of the verdict to be pronounced next week in the politically-sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case, people familiar with the development said.
They said the meeting was held in the chamber of CJI for around one hour during which UP Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari and DGP Om Prakash Singh apprised him about the security arrangements made to maintain law and order in the state.
Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place in the temple town of Ayodhya with drones being used to monitor the situation ahead of the apex court judgment in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case.
Elaborating on the security arrangements, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) PV Ramasastry told news agency PTI, “Adequate forces have been provided to Ayodhya and all sensitive districts of the state in good measure. The force has been sufficiently strengthened in terms of CAPF and PAC companies.”
He said not only their number had been increased but the efficiency of the deployed forces was also being improved for the past two months by giving them better equipment and training.
Apart from this, senior officers were also involved in planning, he said. When asked whether drone cameras will be used for monitoring purposes, Ramasastry said, “Drone cameras are being used in the preparatory phase so that the deployment of the forces can be planned correctly.” He said drone cameras would also be used to closely monitor vulnerable spots and rooftops to prevent the accumulation of stones.
“For the past a couple of months, efforts have been made to increase effectiveness and efficiency of the security personnel,” he said.
“The NSG is available at their bases for any eventuality. We have deployed ATS units, bomb diffusion squads, anti-sabotage and quick response teams.”
Meanwhile, clerics and priests in the town have appealed to people to honour the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute and respect religious sentiments.
The judgment in the case is expected to be pronounced before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi retires on November 17. “We should exercise restraint and not hurt religious sentiments,” Imam of the Lucknow Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali told PTI.
Priest at the Dakshinmukhi Hanuman Mandir in Hazratganj Sarvesh Shukla said, “My only appeal to the people is to honour and respect the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case.” Father Donald De Souza, Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Lucknow told PTI: “Ours is a functional democracy, and rule of law has to be followed by all. The court’s judgment has to be fully respected.”