Ayodhya verdict: Centre asks states to remain alert

Railway Police issues advisory to zones

NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked all states to remain alert ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi-babri Masjid title dispute and ensure security in sensitive areas, officials said on Thursday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also dispatched around 4,000 paramilitary personnel for security deployment in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Ayodhya.

A general advisory has been sent to all states and Union territories asking them to deploy adequate security personnel in all sensitive places and ensure that no untoward incident takes place anywhere in the country, a home ministry official said.

The ministry has rushed 40 companies of paramilitary forces to Uttar Pradesh to assist the state government in maintaining law and order.

A company of paramilitary forces comprises about 100 personnel.

The Supreme Court judgement on the Ram Janmabhoomi-babri Masjid title suit is expect before November 17.

Meanwhile, the railway police issued a seven-page advisory to all its zones giving them a slew of instructions on security preparedness. The advisory from the RPF has also said that leaves of all its personnel have been cancelled and they have been instructed to be engaged in escorting trains.

The advisory, which covers aspects like security at platforms, railway stations, yard, parking space, bridges and tunnels as well as production units and workshops has earmarked all potential hotspots which could either be a site for any violence or could be used to hide explosives.

The Railway Protection Force advisory has said that a close watch should be kept on all religious structures near railway stations or within its premises as they may become a “flashpoints” in case tempers run high. It has also instructed caretakers of such structures not to leave them unguarded.

It has identified around 78 major stations with high footfall including stations in Mumbai, Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh where the presence of RPF personnel have been increased.