JOIN USAnticipating the verdict, schools in the city had declared two-day holiday, shops had downed their shutters and traffic on the road was bare minimum. The central and state government offices were also practically closed.
Messages of peace had been coming from religious leaders and stars of Bollywood. Stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Akshay Khanna were joined by singing legend Lata Mangeshkar in appealing for peace and calm amongst people.
Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray has hoped that the Allahabad high court judgement on the Ayodhya title suits should douse the “still hanging” fires of the decades-long dispute. “The Ayodhya issue was hanging fire for decades. Let us hope that today’s verdict would put an end to it,” Thackeray said.
Police and paramilitary forces had been deployed across the city to prevent violent incidents, while 4,000 suspicious people were arrested. Notices were also served on 1,200 under section 149 of the IPC, said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajnish Seth.
According to the state chief secretary J P Dange, 2.5 lakh security personnel from the Rapid Action Force, the Riot Control Police and the State Reserve Police Force were deployed across the state.
Authorities have banned all processions and morchas till Sunday. However, news of the verdict brought considerable change in the mood. The fact that schools will be open on Friday is an indication that business will be as usual in the maximum city.