Lucknow, Dec 5 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government Saturday ordered security to be beefed up across the state, especially in communally sensitive towns, ahead of the 17th anniversary Sunday of the demolition of the 16th century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
For the first time since the demolition of the mosque on Dec 6, 1992, the local administration at Ayodhya has deployed the National Security Guard (NSG) to maintain round-the-clock vigil in and around the makeshift temple at the disputed site in the ancient temple town.

Additional contingents of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployd all across the already heavily protected site.

Strict regulations have been laid down for the entry of devotees. Batches of only two people would be permitted at a time into the makeshift temple from Sunday morning.

“The enhanced security arrangements would remain in place for a week,” Faizabad’s Senior Superintendent of Police R.K.S. Rathore told IANS over the telephone.

While prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code are already clamped in and around the shrine, policemen there have been told to not only remain “extra vigilant” but also observe “utmost strictness” for the next few days.

“Laxity of any kind on the part of the uniformed personnel would not be tolerated,” Rathore pointed out.

“We have also issued an appeal to the people to cooperate with the security personnel, who have been told to remain courteous and polite, while maintaining their firmness,” he added.