Highways leading to Ayodhya under high surveillance

Prayagraj: A day before Bhoomi Pujan at the Ram temple site in Ayodhya scheduled on Wednesday, the Prayagraj range police on Tuesday reviewed the security arrangements and barricaded all routes leading to Ayodhya from Prayagraj, Kaushambi and Pratapgarh.
The range police have set up 20 special check posts cum pickets at Kokhraj (Kaushambi), Soroan, Nawabganj (Prayagraj) and Pratapgarh-Sultanpur road leading towards Ayodhya.
“As many as 10 policemen have been deployed at each check post. The policemen are equipped with bulletproof jackets and automatic weapons. Checking of vehicles have been intensified at the check posts,” informed IG (Prayagraj range) KP Singh.
He also added that cops are constantly on the round to ensure adequate security arrangements in city areas as well. Police forces have been deployed at prominent temples and residents have been advised to stay indoors.
“Senior police officials will patrol the city throughout the day on Wednesday and sleuths of local intelligence unit have been asked to compile detailed information about the situation,” said Singh adding, “We have been maintaining a strict watch on highways leading to Ayodhya” he added.
Meanwhile, deputy chief minister of UP, Keshav Prasad Maurya, on Tuesday, interacted with the BJP corporators, MLAs and workers at Prayagraj. He said, “Residents of Prayagraj will celebrate Dipotsav on Wednesday evening to mark the Bhoomi Pujan in Ayodhya.”
BJP workers said they have mobilised city residents to celebrate Dipotsav. Apart from decoration of temples and maths, dwaj pataka will be placed at prominent intersections of the city.
Meanwhile, management committees of prominent city temples have also made elaborate arrangements to light diays in their premises. The VHP has too planned to illuminate diyas at 5,000 temples and over 200 maths and ashrams in Prayagraj district on Wednesday.
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A day before the Bhoomi pujan scheduled in Ayodhya, the sale of diyas picked up manifolds in Naini, Baluaghat, Kumharantola, Shilakhana, Mehdauri, Kydganj and Tharwai areas. The small diyas are being sold at Rs 60 per 100 pieces in Mumfordganj, while in Rajapur, the same number of diyas cost Rs 70. “There has been a sudden increase in demand for diyas. Potters have brought diyas from trans Ganga and Yamuna pockets to cope with the demand”. Mayank Prajapati, a potter, said, “Diyas are being sold like hotcake. We brought them from trans Ganga and Kaushambi.”