Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) massive rally is set to start in Ayodhya in a short while. In the rally, which is expected to begin at 11 am, prominent Hindu seers are likely to spell out their stand and strategy for construction of a grand Ram temple. The rally has rekindled the memories of 1992 tragedy when the Babri Masjid was demolished.

Not to take any chance, the Uttar Pradesh administration has virtually taken over the town. There is security deployment in the town including 48 companies of the provincial armed constabulary (PAC) and 15 companies of para-military forces which have been deployed on all major roads and intersections.

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Barriers have been put up on busy thoroughfares to ensure that crowd control is easy in case of any untoward incident.

Close circuit cameras have been installed at more than 150 places in the twon along with drone-mounted ones hovering over the streets to keep an eagle eye on the surging crowds.

However, many were violating the prohibitory orders in place with hundreds of thousands of Ram Lalla followers converging to the temple town, cops quoted as saying by news wire agency IANS.

Meanwhile, rejecting the demand of Akhilesh Yadav that Army should be brought in Ayodhya, MoS VK Singh has said that BJP will ensure that law and order is maintained in the area.

More than 100 prominent Hindu seers, including Mahant Ravindra Puri, Mahant Suresh Das of the Digambar Akhada, head of the Ram Janmabhoom Trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Jagatguru Ramanadcharya Hansdevacharya from Haridwar, Jagatguru Ramanandacharya Swami Ram Bhadracharya, Swami Gyananad Giri from Odisha were part of the religious congregation.

VHP leaders informed IANS that Hindu devotees and Ram temple supporters from around 50 districts of Uttar Pradesh have been mobilised for the show of strength.

The administration, however, said that the number of devotees coming to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla has dropped in the past few days, apparently because of security concerns and the tension ahead of the rally.

On Saturday, 17,680 people visited Ram Lalla, a number which on Friday was 49,112.

With IANS Inputs

VHP Dharma Sabha Live updates: Massive rally set to begin\, Ayodhya tense