Ayodhya case: Centre to send 5000 troopers to UP

The centre is likely to reject the Uttar Pradesh government's demand for providing 63,000 security personnel to deal with any law and order problem that may arise after the court verdict on Ayodhya title suit and may give only 5,000 additional armed men.

After taking stock of the availability of central paramilitary personnel, home ministry officials are of the opinion that it was practically impossible to provide 63,000 security guards to Uttar Pradesh due to the force constraint.

"We are hard pressed. We have deployed forces in Naxal affected states, Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast and along the international borders. It is simply impossible to withdraw these forces and send such a huge number of personnel to just one state," an official said.

The home ministry is also readying its forces for deployment in Delhi during Commonwealth Games and six-phased Bihar Assembly elections next month. There are demands for central forces from a few other states too to deal with the law and order problems.

"We are absolutely in a very tight position. 63,000 is a big number. Though we have not taken a final decision, we are planning to give 45 to 50 companies of central force to Uttar Pradesh," the official said. A company of force comprises nearly 100 personnel.

The Mayawati government had asked the centre to provide 630 companies of additional paramilitary personnel to deal with any situation arising out of the Allahabad High Court verdict on Ayodhya title suits on September 24.

The home ministry has already prepared a contingency plan to deal with any situation arising out of the court judgement.      In an advisory, the home ministry has asked all states and union territories to give maintaining law and order "topmost priority" as the judgement has the potential to "evoke sharp reactions".

In its communication, the Ministry also informed states and UTs of the activities of various religious groups which have already announced countrywide mass mobilisation and awareness campaign in view of the forthcoming court verdict.

Maintaining that the court verdict "is likely to evoke sharp reactions and communal passions among both Hindus and Muslims depending on the way the judgement goes," the Ministry has asked states and UTs to keep a close watch on activities of religious bodies of both the communities in the run-up to the judgement.

The home ministry has asked paramilitary forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force (RAF), to be ready with reinforcements as and when needed by states for deployment in sensitive areas prior to the verdict.