P Chidambaram takes stock of country's security ahead of Ayodhya verdict

Home minister P Chidambaram today took stock of the security situation in the country and directed all concerned to ensure peace after the Supreme Court dismissed the plea for deferment of verdict on Ayodhya case.

Chidambaram reviewed the security measures in the wake of the apex court paving the way for the Allahabad high court to deliver its judgment in the 60-year-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.

The home minister also visited his ministry's control room and integrated operations centre and reviewed its functioning.

The meeting was attended by top home ministry officials and chief of Intelligence agencies.

The home ministry has identified 32 sensitive locations across the country - four of them in Uttar Pradesh - where there is a potential to "evoke sharp reactions" following the verdict and asked states to be fully alert.

The Centre is keeping ready paramilitary forces at some strategic locations, closer to airports, for immediate deployment in the places of trouble anywhere in the country.

The home ministry has already prepared a contingency plan to deal with any situation arising out of the Allahabad high court judgment.

At a separate meeting to review the Commonwealth Games security, which was also attended by cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar besides others, Chidambaram took stock of the steps being taken to ensure foolproof measures in the Games venues, the Games village as well as the national capital.