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Tight security in Ahmedabad
ahead of yatra

A tight security cover has been thrown around Ahmedabad ahead of July 12's Jagannath rath yatra.

Gujarat chief minister's security advisor K P S Gill reviewed a rehearsal of the event on Wednesday.

The National Human Rights Commission has voiced concern over the yatra inflaming communal passions in Gujarat.

Gill took a round of the city and reviewed the 'grand rehearsal' of the yatra.

Expressing confidence that the rath yatra would pass off smoothly, Gill told Jain muni Acharya Mahapragyaji, whom he met at the Kankaria Vyamshala, that he would visit him again "on July 13 after the peaceful passage of the rath yatra."

Informing Gill about his efforts to ensure peace, Acharya Mahapragyaji said he had held separate meetings with Muslims, Hindus and senior police officials and a joint meeting was also convened recently wherein a five-point resolution was passed to ensure peace during the yatra.

Stating that in his view postponement of the yatra would have created ill-will between Hindus and Muslims, the Acharya said he differed with former prime ministers I K Gujral and Deve Gowda who had advocated its postponement.

Meanwhile, senior police officers said commandos would protect chariots taking part in the procession and bomb disposal squads would sanitise the entire yatra route.

Around 5,000 policemen and over 80 companies of State Reserve Police Force, Centre Reserve Police Force, Rapid Action Force and Border Security Force would be deployed along the route of the yatra which will begin at 7.00 am from Jamalpur.

Policemen would be posted on top of vantage buildings on both sides of the route and security personnel would be in constant touch with each other on UHF wireless sets.

PTI

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