A team of top officials comprising Chief Secretary RK Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi, DGP HC Awasthi, ADG (Lucknow Zone) SN Sabat and officials from UP and central intelligence agencies visited Ayodhya on Friday to take stock of the security and other arrangements ahead of bhoomi pujan on August 5.

Besides visiting bhoomi pujan site, the officials also visited Saket Vidyalaya where the helicopter carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to land on that day.

Personnel of Special Protection Group (SPG) which looks after the PM’s security, are already camping in the temple town to ensure proper security protocol for the visit at Ayodhya.

Well-placed sources claimed that the chief minister might again visit Ayodhya on Sunday to check whether the arrangements are at place for the historical function.

Senior officials of the rank of IG and above have been posted in all sensitive districts adjoining Ayodhya to help maintain law and order. The government has also put in place a machinery to stop people thronging Ayodhya to attend the grand Rama temple’s foundation  laying ceremony.

Meanwhile, the chief minister instructed UP Police brass to be on high alert ahead of the August 5 ceremony and keep a close tab on subversive and anti-social elements to prevent any possible law and order problem. The officers were also asked to ensure strict COVID-19 protocol during the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5. Due to the pandemic and to avoid any law and order issue, only about 200 guests have been invited to the event. No chief minister from any state has been invited and Yogi Adityanath will be the host for the limited guests. The bhoomi pujan ceremony will be telecast live by Doordarshan.