State put on high alert

Hyderabad/New Delhi, Dec. 4: The state police has been put on high alert after the Intelligence Bureau warned that there would be communal disturbances and terror attacks by Lashkar-e- Tayyaba on December 6.

The day would be observed as Black Day to mark the 17th anniversary of the Babri masjid demolition.

The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, has asked the police to be on guard after reviewing the security with the home minister, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy and the director-general of police, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar and the Intelligence chief, Mr Mahender Reddy.

Home Minister Ms Reddy issued directions to the city and district police to be alert on the Black Day.
The commissioner of police, Mr B Prasada Rao has imposed 144 Section on Black day. “We have information that certain groups are trying to create disturbance to affect public peace and to instigate communal animosity in connection with the anniversary of demolition of the dispute structure at Ayodhya. So we have imposed Section 144 and prohibited procession, dharna, rally or public meetings,” he said.

Section 144 will be in force from 6 am on December 5 till 6 am on December 7. Around 16,000 personnel including 8,000 from the city police, two thousand from other districts and 6,000 home guards will be pressed into service to man the sensitive areas in the city.

Meanwhile, the Union home ministry has made an appeal to all sections of people to cooperate in maintaining communal peace and harmony.

“We sincerely hope that all sections of people will heed this appeal and co-operate with the Central and the state governments to maintain peace,” it said.