With the possibility of showdown between the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) cadre and the State security agencies over the proposed 84-kosi yatra from August 25, the State Government has sealed the borders of all six districts and has deployed heavy reinforcement to prevent the ‘saffron brigade’ from taking out the yatra.
The borders of six districts — Barabanki, Faizabad, Gonda, Basti, Ambedknagar and Bahraich — have been sealed and barricades have been placed at all the entry points.
Checking of vehicles and other preventive measures have been put in place to prevent the VHP leaders to enter the districts. Sources also confirmed that the District Magistrates of all the six districts as well as other sensitive cities of the State have been instructed to prepare makeshift jails so that saints and other VHP as well as other Hindu Organisation leaders who will be detained to foil 84-kosi yatra will be confined there till there release orders.
Sources further said that officers were also instructed to identify the leaders with past records of creating trouble so they can be detained or should be house-arrested to prevent them for creating any problem for law and order.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (law and Order) RK Vishwakarma told reporters here on Thursday that the State has sought 10 companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) from the Centre which is to be deployed in the six districts. Besides 14 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and one of RAF which is available with the State has been also sent to the Faizabad and other adjoining districts to maintain law and order. He said that checking at the railway stations and bus stops have started.
The intelligence reports have suggested that the VHP activists along with the sadhus and saints are expected to reach Faizabad, Basti and Barabanki by trains from far-flung areas. “We are also making arrangements to stop the VHP activists moving towards Faizabad as and when they entered the State for the purpose,” the IG said.
He said that the State Government has already rushed two Superintendents of Police (SP), three Additional SPs, 32 Deputy SPs, 80 Inspectors, 247 Sub-Inspectors and 600 constables in these districts to strengthen the security cordon.
Sources said that Faizabad is already turned into a fortress and all the entry points have been barricaded after the month long Sawan mela at Ayodhya which ended on Wednesday night. Divisional Commissioner of Faizabad Sanjay Prasad and District Magistrate Vipin reviewed the security measures and even went around the yatra route.
“There were around one million devotees in Ayodhya and Faizabad on Wednesday on the occasion of the end of the Sawan Mela and after they leave the district, the entire area would be sealed and the barricading would be done,” a senior police official said. He claimed that the entire district has been divided in 20 sectors and plain clothes policemen were deployed at the railway stations and bus stops to keep a watch on the VHP activists trying to participate in the yatra. They also identified 25 temporary jails in the district to confine the trouble makers.
Sources said that the officials expect that the first confrontation with the VHP leaders could be witnessed at Makhaura on the Saryu bridge in Basti district, about 40 km from Faizabad, from where the yatra will start on August 25. later on August 28, the yatra will move towards Ambedkarnagar from Ayodhya and the security personnel would have to control them at Sarendirishi area of Gosaiganj on Ambedkarnagar road.