The Government swung into action soon after the apex court’s verdict on Ayodhya land dispute on Saturday and imposed a weeklong alert in all the 24 districts here as a preventive measure to maintain law and order. Chief Secretary DK Tiwari chaired a video conferencing with all the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police in Jharkhand and asked them not to give permission for any socio-religious events for at least a week.
Tiwari also asked all the officials on leave to resume duty with immediate effect in order to keep the manpower of administrative and police officials sufficient across the State for combating emergencies and exigencies, a press communiqué from the Public Relations and Information Department of the Government said.
He vested all the Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Magistrates with the power to independently take appropriate decisions in case of an emergency. Chairing the meeting soon after the historical verdict on Saturday morning,
Tiwari said that the police patrolling should be intensified in all the areas across the State and the Deputy Commissioners must visit various localities to ensure that the situation is under control.
Tiwari also asked the DCs and SPs to put a scanner on social media –a platform that has added fuel to fire and led to several communal flare ups in Jharkhand in the past. “Keep an eye on rumour mongers and take strict actions. Intercept sensitive and provocative content and immediately take actions,” Tiwari said.
The Supreme Court on Saturday handed over the disputed 2.77 acre of land in Ayodhya to the Centre and asked it to constitute a committee within three months for construction of a temple. The court decided to allot a five acre land to a
Waqf Board, another claimant of the disputed land, for construction of a mosque at a prominent locality in the city.
The Government’s prompt action after the verdict assumes significance as the Ayodhya dispute has been the bone of contention for several communal clashes across India in the past.
Tiwari on Saturday asked the DCs and SPs not to allow crowds from assembling at religious places and public places such as bus stands and railway stations. He also asked them to keep religious leaders in the loop while taking all the precautionary measures.
Meanwhile, Ranchi Deputy Commissioners Rai Mahimapat Ray imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) across Ranchi until sunrise on November 11. “Special attention should be paid to areas that have witnessed communal tension in the past and are prone to communal clashes,” he said.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Lokesh Mishra conducted a flag march on motorcycle in different localities under Sadar area here on Saturday. The administration has also decided to keep all cracker shops and liquor shops closed until further notice. In case the owners of cracker and liquor shops up their shutters during this period, it may lead to cancellation of their licence.
Palamu DC Shantanu Kumar Agrahari and SP Ajay Linda came out on the streets with a small convoy of cops prior to the verdict on Saturday and marched till Bakouriya on NH 75. They took stock of the situation and sent out a strong message to the residents of the district. Meanwhile, the police in Garhwa and Bokaro too held flag march in the towns.
Jharkhand state nodal police officer cum Additional Director General of police (Operations) Murari Lal Meena on Saturday said, “State police have appealed to the people of Jharkhand to respect the verdict of the Supreme Court and refrain from doing anything which comes in the way of upholding the dignity of the verdict.”
Security alert -3 : Security personnel take out flag march in a sensitive area as security has been tightened after Ayodhya case verdict, in Ranchi on Saturday. Pix by Vinay Murmu