A curfew-like situation prevailed in this temple town with para-military forces staging a flag march on Thursday and administration deciding not to allow anyone to leave their homes on Friday in the wake of VHP's decision to go ahead with 'shila daan' programme. The authorities have sealed the 'kar sevak puram' and 'ram sevak puram', the camps set up for kar sevaks, and movement in these areas has been curbed, police sources said.
Nobody will be allowed to leave their homes and the administration has ordered shops and other establishments to remain closed on Friday, the sources said.
Ayodhya's borders with other districts have been sealed and patrolling along the canal banks intensified to prevent ram sevaks or any leader from entering the city on Friday. River police have been deployed to patrol the Saryu river and effectively man the Majha area where kar sevaks had hid themselves in 1992 before entering Ayodhya.
“We will not hesitate in arresting even senior leaders,” they said, adding the prime objective was to maintain peace and uphold the Supreme Court's directives.
Bureau Report