Police and administrative authorities in Uttar Pradesh are on high alert on Saturday in view of the anniversary of the demolition of the disputed Babri structure in Ayodhya (December 6).
Security forces have been placed on the highest level of alert in major sensitive districts of the state, including Ayodhya and Mathura.
Officials said security agencies are also operating in an active mode in Varanasi, Lucknow, Meerut, Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, and Prayagraj. Additional security arrangements have been in place in Ayodhya since December 4.
Ayodhya SSP Gaurav Grover said instructions have been issued to all police stations to function in alert mode. He added that the heightened security will continue until December 6, with special care being taken to ensure that the general public does not face inconvenience. Hotels, guesthouses, roadside eateries (dhabas), and vehicles entering the city are undergoing intensive checking.
Meanwhile, security has been further tightened in Mathura due to the Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah dispute. DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey of the Agra range reviewed the security arrangements in the district and directed officials to increase surveillance at sensitive locations. Real-time monitoring is being conducted using drone cameras at the Janmabhoomi complex and other important sites.
SSP Shlok Kumar stated that the entire city has been divided into zones and sectors, with senior officers tasked with their monitoring.
Additional forces from outside the district, including PAC, RAF, and special units, have also been deployed.
He said that no individual or organisation will be allowed to initiate any new activity that could disturb peace and order. Intelligence units have been activated, and potential troublemakers have been bound over.
Across the state, police presence has been increased at railway stations, bus stands, district borders, markets, and other public places. Surprise checks are being conducted at all police stations. Following the recent car bomb blast in Delhi and its subsequent Uttar Pradesh connection, security agencies are exercising extra vigilance.
It is noteworthy that December 6 is observed as “Shaurya Diwas” (Day of Valour) by some organisations and as “Black Day” by several Muslim groups. As a result, heightened security measures are implemented every year to maintain law and order. Similar precautions are being taken this year as well.