Bengaluru, Aug 4: Police barricades, yellow banners, walls with a fresh coat of paint and the sounds of bhajan mark parts of Ayodhya as the city awaits its big day Wednesday, when the first brick will be laid for the Ram temple.
Ayodhya is decked up for the bhoomi pujan that will be attended at the Ram Janmabhoomi by 175 people, who figure in a select guest list of seers and politicians topped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Concerned over the spread of coronavirus, the authorities are encouraging others not to come to the temple town, asking them to mark the occasion by celebrating at their homes. The groundbreaking ceremony will be telecast live.
Roads leading to Ayodhya display hoardings with the picture of the proposed Ram temple and of Ram Lalla, the infant Ram, the deity now housed in a makeshift temple.
Around the town’s Hanumangarhi area – named after a well-known temple which Modi will visit on Wednesday – both police sirens and ‘bhajans’ in praise of Ram are heard.
Most of the shops in the locality wear a new look, with their fronts painted in bright yellow. A large number of policemen were deployed there on Tuesday. Some sat in the sweet shops, waiting for their next instructions.
Roads leading into the area are barricaded. Yards of yellow cloth and marigold garlands were being hung on poles.
Even on the day before the event, security checks on vehicles heading to Ayodhya begin from adjoining Barabanki district itself on the Lucknow-Ayodhya road. Policemen take down details, including mobile numbers of the travellers.
Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said the focus of the force is on maintaining the Covid-19 protocol.
“So we are not going to allow any outsider to enter Ayodhya city,” he said. Prohibitory orders are also in force and not more than four people will be allowed to gather.
“The markets and shops will remain open but with strict adherence to the Covid protocol,” he said. Outsiders will be stopped from entering the city, but Ayodhya residents will be allowed in if they produce any identification document.
“We are also carrying out random checks on people living in Ayodhya to ensure that no outsiders are staying here,” he said.
The city’s temples and mosques will remain open, but no other religious event – except for the bhoomi pujan – will take place on Wednesday.
Pickets have been set up at sensitive points in the city.
Sub-inspector Ram Chandra Yadav and constables Avnish Kumar and Ankit Chaudhary man the Terhi Bazar Chauraha picket near the Ram Janmabhoomi site.
"We are here for the past some days, and were on duty on the Rakshabandhan day. Duty comes first and only after that come other things in life, like festivals," Yadav said.
Mayank Gupta, who runs a restaurant, was handing out food packets to policemen, his customers.
"For the last two months, I have been providing tiffin to them twice a day. There are around 100 policemen to whom I supply tiffin," Gupta said.
Comments
when a human being brutally killed, people are talking based on religion...... shame on you guys...... see his face.... it is the height of the cruelty... may his soul rest in peace
ARUN KUMAR
DUBAI
Idiot YOGESH, don't just say what ever you get into your mind, I work for RSS & MRM, You should know the fact that Ismail nelyamajalu used to visit tirupathi lord balaji for darshan with his family once or twice a year, he also used to conduct jathara(festival) at a temple in sullia, DK, every year. He was a very kind human being more than a muslim & a politician.
A very good husband, father, brother and a friend, I personally know him since 2013.
Please know the facts before you bark.
Naren, you did not explain what is 72.....you are just making bow, bow,..... you are free to take action against any one making hate comments .....
Dear mr SK ,mr true Indian ...police commissioner alla even DIG bekadru complaint kodi ...mr viren ,bopanna and yogesh and including me have the right to comment ..its not a social media like Facebook and twitter to lodge complain ...this is strictly controlled by admin ......cyber cell will also check anti Hindu comments too ..do u think we will keep quiet ...? We also know laws ...how we can sit when our patriotic organisation like sangh is mocked ...so better mind ur business ...better u talk to CD ...being a responsible media they are responsible for posting news which don't instigate ...but they are not doing ....
Naren, singapore ..what is this figure of 72 ... can you explain further ????
True Indian, Mangalore...it is better to report such matters with mangalore police commissioner,Mr chandrashekar....
Frustrated Brothers Naren And Viren.Papa pandu.Day is not far to pay for all your Comments.In sha allah.We give damn to all your Comments.Carry On.
Papa athmakke shaanthi sigali ..mele 72 virgins sigali .........yelli faizhal Bhai kaanistha illa .....banree \ innu illari rajiwoon antha helree \""
Coastal Digest please do not entertain Brother Viren's Such Comment which disturbs the readers or else we will have to complain against him with the Cyber cell.Please take this message seriously.
Death is not a disaster simply a passing from this world onto the next. It should make us reflect and ponder about the purpose of the life and what will become of us after death. Innah ilahi wa inna ilaihi rajihoon Deep condolence insha Allah grant him forgiveness and higher in heavens. Ameen
I have conducted a survey of Friday murders in coastal Karnataka. Especially immediately after or before Muslims special prayers. 99% of such murders are committed by Muslims only.
So Yogesh is making a confession that BJP is behind this murder ?
Shocking incident, he was really a prominent leader of congress. anyways rest in peace.
May his soul rest in peace
whoever made this brutal crime must be punish them in the like same. seriously a inhuman act.
How people can b so cruel? Y can't we lead our four days of life happily. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon.
Innalillahi va inna ilayhi rajivoon
Innalillah
Inna lillahi wa inna elaihi rajiwoon.
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