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UP Govt clamps down on VHP yatra; 1,700 detained
Shahira Naim/TNS

VHP leader Praveen Togadia being taken into custody from Gola Ghat in Ayodhya on Sunday. — PTI

Lucknow, August 25
VHP’s decision to defy the state government ban and perform 84-kosi parikrama yatra from Ayodhya today turned out to be non-starter.

Around 1,696 sadhus and VHP supporters headed for Ayodhya for VHP’s proposed parikrama were detained in various parts of the state today. The state government would detain them or keep them under house arrest for the next 14 days or till the VHP call expires on September 13.

Briefing reporters, ADG (Law and Order) R K Vishvakarma said no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state and the day passed off relatively peacefully. He said earlier in the day, 12 companies of the CRPF and the SSB had been sent by the Central government which were dispatched to different districts. Two companies were deployed at Faizabad and one each in the other five affected districts of Basti, Gonda, Barabanki, Bahraich and Ambedkar Nagar.

On company each were sent to the other sensitive districts of Meerut, Agra, Rampur, Kanpur and Gorakhpur, said Vishvakarma.

This is over and above the 10 companies of RAF and 12 companies of the PAC already deployed in the area. Another three additional SPs, 10 DSPs, 55 Inspectors, 190 sub inspectors and 1300 constables are also keeping vigil.

However, despite all precautionary measures, senior VHP leader Praveen Togadia reached Gola ghat of Saryu River in Ayodhya in the morning along with his supporters. The police personnel faced a tough task at hand in arresting him.

Similarly, VHP president Ashok Singhal landed at Chadhury Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow from Delhi and was ready to leave for Ayodhya with his supporters. A high-level team of district and state level officers were closeted with him at VIP lounge where negotiations were conducted, asking him to return to Delhi.