UP govt seeks intel report after stone-laden trucks arrive in Ayodhya

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government today sought a "confidential" report from Intelligence Department on two stone-laden trucks arriving in Ayodhya six months after the VHP announced a nationwide drive to collect stones for construction of Ram temple.

"The state government has sought a confidential report from Additional Director General (Intelligence) on the activities going on in Ayodhya," IG (Law and Order) A Satish Ganesh said.

"Two truckloads of stones have been unloaded at Ram Sewak Puram, a VHP property in Ayodhya, and 'Shila Pujan' (praying of the stones) has been performed by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of Ram Janam Bhumi Nyas," VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma had said yesterday.

Ram Janmbhoomi Trust's Mahant Nritya Gopal Das has said there was a "signal" from the Modi government that the temple will be built "now".

Police have said they are monitoring all the developments minutely.

"Stones have arrived and being kept in a private premises. Due to this development, if their was any breach in peace or communal harmony we will definitely take action," SP Faizabad, Mohit Gupta had said.

Asserting its resolve to build the Ram temple, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had in June announced a nationwide drive to collect stones for construction of the temple here and had also asked the Muslim community not to pose any hindrance.