Babri Masjid Demolition Anniversary: Security Tightened In Ayodhya, Mathura | All You Need To Know | Earth Indian

Lucknow: Security arrangements have been heightened in Ayodhya and Mathura in view of the 29th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid on Monday. Five additional SPs, 14 Deputy-SPs, 40 inspectors, 1400 head constables and constables, 10 companies of PAC and six of RAF are being deployed from Saturday evening in Ayodhya. Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC is in place in Mathura in view of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Grover said permission to hold traditional rituals in Mathura by four organisations Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Srikrishna Janmabhumi Nirman Nyas, Narayani Sena and Srikrishna Mukti Dal has been rejected.

Police anticipate that the Hindu outfits would not observe Shourya Diwas (Day of Bravery) as they did till last year following the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya. Muslim organisations and parties would observe ‘Yaum-e-Gham’ (day of sorrow) and take out processions and hold demonstrations at select places.

Massive security deployed in Mathura

To maintain law and order, Mathura has been divided into three zones for security purposes. Officials said that the area in which the Katra Keshav Dev temple and the Shahi Idgah falls has been demarcated as the red zone, where the deployment of security personnel is the highest.

“Adequate force has also been deployed at every entry point of Mathura,” Grover said, adding that checking at these entry points has been intensified.

To control any untoward incident, District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal and SSP Grover stationed themselves at the Deeg Gate police outpost, which is very close to the Idgah.

As a precautionary measure, the Railways has suspended the Railbus operation between Mathura and Vrindavan for four days. Railbus, a virtual heritage bus, running between Mathura and Vrindavan has been cancelled from December 4 to December 7 Ravi Prakash, Area Manager Mathura Junction of NER said. Meanwhile, advocate and secretary Idgah trust Tanveer Ahemad has appreciated the steps taken by the district administration to maintain harmony of Mathura.

Last year, the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary was a low-key affair with both Hindu and Muslim religious leaders downplaying the occasion amid tight security measures. The Hindu and Muslim communities had refrained from holding any special event to mark the day.

Until 2018, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) used to observe the day as ‘Shaurya Diwas’ (day of bravery), while the Muslims in Ayodhya marked it as ‘Black Day’ (day of mourning).

Haji Mahboob, a key prosecution witness in the Babri demolition case, said, “We have not held any event on this day. But we mourned the demolition of Babri Masjid in the mosques and offered special prayers.”

By Shivam Urkude || Earth Indian