Babri anniv: Over 10k security personnel guarding Ayodhya

On the eve of 22nd anniversary of Babri mosque demolition, the temple town has turned into a fortress with nearly 10,000 security personnel deployed amid calls by Muslim outfits to mark the day by hoisting black flags even as Hindu bodies seek to commemorate it.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the city and mounted police will be among about 10,000 police and anti-riot personnel keeping a vigil.

The local administration has laid a three-tier security cordon around the twin cities of Ayodhya and Faizabad with officials of superintendent rank manning the key areas.

Two dozens CCTV cameras have also been installed across the Ayodhya city.

Muslim organisations have announced that it will be marked as a black day while appealing to the community to hoist black flags and observe a shut down.

While the Hindu organisations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have said it will observe it as "day of bravery, victory".

A flood company of PAC has been deployed in Saryu river for round the clock water patrolling to prevent any untoward incident that may happen through the river.

All the entry points of Ayodhya city have been sealed and entry is permitted only after complete security check.

Senior Superintendent of Police KB Singh said, "We are in regular touch with the responsible and peace loving people of both the communities. The day of December 6 will be passed peacefully without any hindrance in the normal life of the twin town."

22 years after the demolition, the trial in the Babri case is moving at a slow pace. The accused include senior BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and Vinay Katiyar.

The trial is going on in two special CBI courts in Lucknow and Raebareli.

Among the 980 witnesses, only 143 have recorded their statements so far in the CBI court in Lucknow.

While in Raebareli, 50 witnesses out of 101 have deposed before the court.

The special CBI courts were established on December 16, 1992, in Raebareli and on September 8, 1993 in Lucknow.

However, the investigation in the case was started by CBI on August 25 1993. The charges against the accused were framed on 17 August, 2010.