Ahead of the Allahabad High Court’s verdict on the Ayodhya title suit tomorrow, the Karnataka government has banned protests, demonstrations and processions to maintain peace and communal harmony in the State.
State Home Minister R Ashoka reviewed the situation today with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police in districts through video-conferencing and directed them to take all steps to maintain law and order.
“Protests, demonstrations, processions and victory marches have been banned (after the verdict),” said Mr. Ashoka, who discussed security measures with Home Secretary K M Shivakumar, DGP Ajai Kumar Singh, ADGP (Law & Order) A R Infant, Bangalore City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari and IGP (Intelligence) Gopal B Hosur.
Schools and colleges would remain closed for two days from tomorrow, while liquor shops would be shut for 24 hours from six am tomorrow. Leave requests from police officials would not be entertained.
Officials said personnel from police, home guards, Karnataka State Reserve Police, district armed reserve and city armed reserve will be deployed on duty in good strength.
The Centre, however, has turned down Karnataka’s request to send RAF personnel as their presence was required elsewhere in the country, particularly northern parts, they said.
Mr. Ashoka and Mr. Singh urged the media to report with restraint and not to telecast any inflammatory speeches and provocative old clippings.
Around 100-150 video cameras would be used in each district, the home minister said. District authorities would hold peace meetings with leaders of both communities, he added.
