The Mayawati government is putting in place a unique experiment in community policing to ward off communal flare-ups in the aftermath of the Ayodhya title suit verdict.
The Mayawati government is putting in place a unique experiment in community policing to ward off communal flare-ups in the aftermath of the Ayodhya title suit verdict.
Under this, prominent Hindu citizens of different localities would protect Muslims in case of any eventuality. The government expects communal passions to run high after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court pronounces its order on the six-decade-old legal tussle on September 24.
The UP police have asked prominent Hindu citizens to put out in black and white their resolution to save and protect Muslims in their localities. “This is the first time in the history of UP and perhaps anywhere in the country that such an exercise is being conducted,” said additional DG (law and order) Brij Lal.
The police are forming ‘shanti suraksha samitis’ in all areas where there could be trouble. Top police officials are talking directly to priests and imams to be part of these samitis to ensure communal amity. Influential citizens from the majority community are being enrolled as ‘guardian angels’.
They will give a written undertaking that they would do everything in their capacity to ensure that the life and property of their Muslim neighbours are not in peril.
“We are using all security forces at our command, but unless we get the support of the people, our efforts would remain incomplete,” says Brij Lal. The police plan keeps the local Hindus and Muslims in the loop about the special security arrangements at places of worship.
The UP police has been compelled to improvise their security strategy as they are getting just a fraction of the central paramilitary forces (CPMF) they had demanded for this crucial period. While the state had asked for as many as 630 companies, the Centre has obliged with only 40.
A top official confided that the security plan focused on 21 districts classified as “extra sensitive”. These districts would get deployment of CPMF companies along with at least five companies of PAC each, the official added. Besides, public address (PA) systems are being mounted at 700 places. “These would be effective in countering any rumours floated by mischief-mongers,” he said.
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