Security Review Ahead Of Ayodha Verdict

A high- level meeting to review the law and order situation ahead of the verdict on Ayodhya title suit this week together with the ensuing Ganpati immersion on Anant Chaturdashi on Wednesday and the firing outside Jama Masjid in national capital was held on Sunday.

The meeting presided over by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Home Minister R R Patil, DGP D Sivanandan and Mumbai Police chief Sanjeev Dayal reviewed the law and order situation in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The authorities fear that the upcoming verdict on Ayodhya title suit which is to be pronounced on September 24 by Allahabad High Court poses a security challenge.

It may be noted that the city had witnessed communal riots in 1992- 93 in the aftermath of the Babri mosque demolition and the serial blasts on March 12,1993 followed by it. The horrific memory of those days is still fresh in the minds of the Mumbaikars.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who is besieged politically by his rivals does not want to project an image of a wishy- washy politician and hence he has ordered a strict action against those indulging in needless provocation and instigating people to violence.

At Sunday's meeting Chavan directed the authorities concerned to take all preventive and necessary measures to ensure that communal harmony and peace prevails in the state and common man is not subjected to any hardship, said officials who attended the meeting. They said that Chavan said he would appeal to all political parties to refrain from any provocation and also to the media to cooperate in maintaining peace.

He further urged the people to respect the verdict of the court and maintain calm and harmony.

He warned the trouble- rousers of strict action if they indulged in violence. He said the Mumbai police was thoroughly capable of protecting lives and property of the Mumbaikars and hence they should not worry.