Covid -ve cops below 45 yrs to be deployed during PM’s visit

LUCKNOW: Police personnel who have tested negative for the Covid-19 infection and are below 45 years of age will be deployed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other VVIPs to Ayodhya for the Ram temple foundation stone laying ceremony on August 5, said UP director general of police (DGP) Hitesh Chandra Awasthy on Friday.

The decision was made after a meeting was held in Ayodhya on Friday to review the security arrangements. Chief secretary RK Tiwari, additional chief secretary, home, Awanish Kumar Awasthi and other senior officers were also present at the meeting.

The policemen will be equipped with masks and face shield as per Covid-19 protocol. Snipers will be deployed at roof tops around the bhumi pujan venue for security reasons. Entry into Ayodhya will be banned after August 4 midnight.

“The inner security ring will be handled by Special Protection Group (SPG) officers. But the police personnel, who have tested negative for the infection, as well as those kept in reserve in complete isolation, would preferably be deployed closer to the inner security ring of the PM,” the DGP said.

He said the process of testing policemen at police stations and reserve police lines for the infection had been going on for the past few weeks.

“In all, over 4,000 police personnel across Ayodhya district will be deployed for security and restrict the movement of people. This will include sealing the district borders and curbing traffic movement. Over 75 barriers will be installed inside the town area,” the DGP said.

“A detailed briefing on Covid-19 protocol, as well as routine security drill, will be given to the policemen deployed for the event,” he added.

He said although an advance appeal had been made to the public to not move towards Ayodhya for the event, security had also been intensified in adjoining districts. As construction of Ram temple was related to public sentinments, no chances were being taken, he added.

Another police official privy to the arrangements, who asked not be named, said over 300 police personnel who were younger and tested negative for Covid-19 infection were handpicked for deployment for VVIP security.

He said around 10 companies

of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the central armed police force will also be deployed. The entre ‘Panch Kosi’ parikrama area within a five kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi will be sealed, he said.