Forces, IL-76s on standby for Sept 30 verdict

NEW DELHI: The Centre, as part of its elaborate security arrangements to tackle any law and order fallout of the September 30 verdict on Ayodhya, has stationed reserve security forces at 16 vantage points across the country, enabling personnel to be rushed to troubled spots at a 10-minute notice.

Among the 16 spots, located in proximity to the airports, where forces have been kept on standby are Delhi, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad and Bagdogra. The government has also requested Indian Air Force (IAF) to keep its AN-32 and IL-76 aircraft on standby at eight locations to fly out security forces in the event of emergencies.

As part of the security arrangements — reviewed by home minister P Chidambaram, who visited the Integrated Operations Centre in the home ministry on Tuesday to get a detailed brief on deployment details and other precautionary measures — the home ministry extended the ban on bulk SMS and MMS until September 30 and reiterated its advisory to the states to keep up vigil and deal firmly with all attempts to create communal disturbances.

The concerns of the security agencies about a possible communal breakout have been aggravated by the timing of the verdict, as it comes just three days before the inauguration of the Commonwealth Games. The Centre can ill-afford any major incident on Games eve as it will only invite wide international attention and risk the country’s image as a ‘safe sporting destination’.

The agencies, however, are optimistic that the Mayawati government will go the whole hog to keep communal elements in check. Besides, with one of the parties certain to move an appeal in the Supreme Court, a stay will follow within hours of the HC judgement, defusing any communal tension that may arise on account of the verdict.

Though it had sent an advisory to the states on Monday, in anticipation of a high court verdict on Tuesday, the new date of deliverance of the judgement made the Centre repeat the security instructions to the states on Tuesday. At a separate meeting to review the CWG security, also attended by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar besides others, Mr Chidambaram took stock of the steps being taken to ensure foolproof measures in the Games venues and the Games village.