Babri demolition eve: Vigil against rumour mongers, close cracker shops: UP DGP

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh DGP Sulkhan Singh on Tuesday issued detailed directives to district police chiefs in the state for taking all necessary steps to ensure peace and amity on the anniversary of Babri mosque demolition tomorrow.

The respective police chiefs have been asked to promulgate prohibitory orders in consultation with the district magistrates, wherever required, and take all pre emptive steps to ensure that no one collects bricks, stones, acid bottles and other such things that could be used to harm peace, an official statement said.

Directives were issued to keep cracker shops closed on December 6 besides maintaining alert on shops selling wine and arms, the statement said, adding that special vigil be undertaken against rumour mongers.

Asking for proper deployment of the personnel so that they are visible to the public, the DGP said that additional force be used in the areas having a mixed population and are sensitive.

The police personnel deployed should be properly equipped with body protectors, helmets, tear gas shells and rubber bullets among others, the order said.

The DGP also suggested surprise checks on railway and bus stations, shopping malls, multiplexes and other such places.

He also asked for all the SHOs to keep some force in reserve as well as buses, the statement said, adding that directives were also issued for proper police deployment for the functions related to Dr B R Ambedkar's death anniversary, which also falls on the same day.