Anti-Terrorist Squad, Drones, 10,000 CCTVs: Ayodhya Under Unprecedented Security Cover For Jan 22 Ram Mandir Opening

Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya is turning into a fortress for the grand consecration or 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla idol taking place on January 22 in the Shri Ram Mandir.

Thousands of security personnel, CCTV cameras, hundreds of drones and expert teams are being sent and deployed to the temple town of Ayodhya for the mega event which the entire country is looking forward to.

Rituals leading to the January 22 consecration ceremony are already underway at the Ram temple, constructed at what many devout believe marks the spot where Lord Ram was born.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leading the ceremony, for which thousands of invites have been sent to people eminent personalities in the field of art, politics, cinema, sports and other backgrounds.

Security Measures For Jan 22 Ram Temple Consecration

A special task force of the Uttar Pradesh Police has been tasked with providing comprehensive security cover to the upcoming Ram temple complex in Ayodhya, a senior government functionary said earlier this week.

Multilingual policemen in plain clothes will also be deployed around the Ayodhya Ram Temple, officials said.

Along with Uttar Pradesh Police, Central force personnel have also been deployed at key points in Ayodhya in view of the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony, a highly sensitive event taking place 32 years after 'kar sevaks' demolished the Babri Masjid that stood there with the desire to see a temple there in the future.

A historic Supreme Court judgement in 2019 on the temple-mosque dispute paved the way for the construction of the temple.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) that has been guarding the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex, after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, will gradually be withdrawn, the functionary said.

The paramilitary force had thwarted a terrorist attack that took place on July 5, 2005 at the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid with the killing of five militants.

Meanwhile, an armed contingent of more than 150 CISF personnel under the command of a Deputy Commandant rank officer has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for securing the Ayodhya airport that was inaugurated by PM Modi in December 2023.

Anti-Terrorist Squad, Anti-Mine Drones In Ayodhya

Anti-terrorist squad commandos from Uttar Pradesh Police have been stationed at the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya to enhance security measures.

UP Police is also using artificial intelligence-based anti-mine drones to provide 360-degree security coverage.

“UP police is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to keep a close watch on every happening in the sacred city. Anti-mines drones with AI data and other top security devices are being used by UP police for aerial and ground surveillance. AI CCTV cameras will also be installed across the city to take care of any problem in future. The software used in these cameras will capture faces and will keep them in the database to recognise or match them with any future trouble,” a news18 report quoted sources as saying.

10,000 CCTV Cameras, Some AI-Powered, Installed Across Ayodhya

Around 10,000 CCTV cameras, including some Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered, have been installed across Ayodhya for the January 22 event.

Director General (DG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, said that security has been ensured for every road along the entire red zone, yellow zone and Ayodhya district.

To ensure better security arrangements at the programme venue in Ayodhya, technology is being used on a large scale, he said.

“For this, 10,000 CCTV cameras have been installed in the entire Ayodhya district. In some of these CCTV cameras, we are using AI-based technology so that we can maintain a strict vigil on the commuters,” the DG said.

Security Around Saryu River Increased

DG Prashant Kumar said the security of Saryu river, which flows in Ayodhya, has also been increased and added the security arrangements will be ensured through use of power boats, the NDRF and SDRF teams, and with local boatmen.

“We are coordinating with other agencies. Checking is going on at the international and inter-state border. Police will use drones for crowd control and for diversion of excess crowd. We will use anti-drone technology at the programme venue so that security arrangements remain in place,” he said.

“We have converted all the major roads coming towards Ayodhya into green corridors so that traffic is not disrupted. Heavy traffic has been diverted around Ayodhya since January 18 and a traffic advisory has also been issued in this regard,” he said.

MHA Sends Team Of Experts To Deal With Cyber Threat

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reportedly sent a high-level team to Ayodhya to deal with cyber threats ahead of the inauguration of the Ram Temple in the historical town on January 22.

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The joint team includes officials of MHA's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITy), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and experts in cyber matters, news agency ANI quoted sources as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)