Ayodhya on alert ahead of 'dharm sabha' meet

Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in the temple town of Ayodhya in view of the visit of Shiv Sena supremo Udhav Thackeray on Saturday and the 'dharm sabha' of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday.

According to the police sources here, the entire town was divided into eight security zones and 16 sectors, which would be under the charge of senior police officials.

The state government has rushed additional director generals (ADG) and one DIG level officer to Ayodhya to oversee security arrangements and ensure that law and order is maintained under all circumstances.

Around 50 companies of the Provincial Arms Constabulary (PAC) had been deployed in Ayodhya besides the civil police. Paramilitary forces were also being deployed in the temple town, sources said.

Entry of vehicles into Ayodhya had been banned and a close watch is being kept on large groups, especially those from outside the state, sources said.

State police chief O.P.Singh said here on Friday that adequate security arrangements would be made in Ayodhya to ensure that there was no violation of the Supreme Court order for maintaining status quo.

''We have made adequate security arrangements... there is no need for the people to worry... we are committed to maintain law and order,'' Singh said.

Section 144 had already been imposed in the entire acquired land and the devotees wanting to pay obeisance at the makeshift Ram Temple would be allowed only in small batches, police officials said.