Ayodhya: Security has been beefed up in this temple town for the Ram Navami Mela tomorrow that is expected to attract over 10 lakh pilgrims.

The security cordon would not just cover the city but its radius would be over 200 km, expanding to the borders of neighbouring Nepal.

According to City SP G N Khanna, also the security in-charge of the Mela, seven ASPs, 26 DSPs, two companies of RAF, eight companies of PAC, 110 sub-inspectors, 450 constables and 100 lady constables have been deployed along with personnel from intelligence department, anti-sabotage team and bomb disposal squad.

A joint team of paramilitary forces and PAC jawans has been deployed at all prominent temples and there were regular search operations in the city, Khanna said.

To counter any extremist activity, the district administration has divided the entire city into five zones and 20 sectors. ASPs will be in command of security zones and the DSPs will take care of their respective sectors, Mela in-charge and ADM D P Giri said.

Special instructions have been issued to the administration of all neighbouring districts to keep strict watch on trains passing through their districts towards Ayodhya to check extremist elements, Giri said.

Source : PTI