In the wake of high alert and deployment of heavy police force in anticipation of a verdict on the sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Mosque dispute next month, the district authorities clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Ayodhya, a day ahead of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad move to seek permission to light earthen lamps at the disputed site on the occasion of Deepotsav during Diwali on October 27.
Immediately after receiving the application seeking permission for the event, Divisional Commissioner and receiver of the disputed site, Manoj Mishra, hinted that permission for any new programme could not be given.
“We can only give permission for traditional functions or festivals in the disputed area. If the VHP wants to hold any function in the disputed area, it should approach the Supreme Court,” he told media persons in Ayodhya on Monday.
Mishra rejected the VHP demand after discussing the issue with District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha.
The VHP application signed by saints and political leaders had sought permission for organising deepotsav in the disputed area on October 27.
“The VHP wants to organise Deepotsav at the janmasthan of Lord Ram and it is nothing new,” said VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma here on Monday.
He was one of the applicants who signed the application. The other signatories included Mahant Kanahiya Das, Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, Mahant Awadh Bihari Das, local counsellor Ramesh Das and BJP member Vaisha Vinod Jaiswal.
Meanwhile, Ayodhya District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha clamped Section 144 of the CrPC in the entire district till December 10.
The prohibitory orders have been clamped in view of the possibility of Supreme Court giving its verdict by mid of November in the vexed Ayodhya title suit.
The prohibitory order also restricts drones, unmanned aerial vehicle for filming and shooting inside Ayodhya.
The sale and purchase of crackers will not be allowed on the occasion of Diwali without permission of the magistrate.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi along with DGP OP Singh would visit Ayodhya on Tuesday to review the preparations for Deepostav in which Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also participate and also of security arrangements to avert any untoward incident in the temple city.
Ten companies of Central Para-Military Police have already been deployed in the temple city and a heavy police force has been summoned from the neighbouring districts to ensure peaceful celebration of Deepotsav.
