Babri Masjid demolition anniversary: Police on high alert in Hyderabad

The City Police are on high alert for the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on Friday with elaborate security arrangements being made to prevent any untoward incident. The police are taking extra precautionary measures as the Supreme Court had recently pronounced its judgement on the Ayodhya title dispute.

Anticipating protests, the police have placed Darsgah Jihad-o-Shahadat president Abdul Majid under house arrest. At least half a dozen policemen are deployed outside the house of Majid at Kanchanbagh. A few more activists of the DJS are likely to be taken into preventive custody. The DJS had planned a protest at Kanchanbagh in the old city. Several Muslim organisations have called up the community to observe black day on Friday.

City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar has instructed Station House Officers to post pickets at all sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas in view of the black day call. He also asked the police officials to keep a tab on few organisations who would observe the day as Shourya Divas.

In a



memorandum issued to all DCPs, the Commissioner asked them to take extra precautions at places of worship in the city to prevent anyone from triggering trouble. At Mecca Masjid, around 5,000 persons usually offer prayers on Friday afternoon. Comprehensive security arrangements are being made by the City Police for peaceful conduct of prayers in one of the biggest mosques in the country. Teams from the Rapid Action Force, Commissioner’s Task Force, Quick Reaction Teams and local police will be deployed around the mosque.

A senior police official said the bandobast was being done as a precautionary measure keeping in mind the fact that the Supreme Court had recently given its verdict in the case. “We have no specific information about any organisation trying to instigate trouble. As usual, preventive measures are being taken up,” the official said.

As a precautionary measure, educational institutions have declared a holiday. Shops and business establishments are expected to open only after Friday prayers.