Hyderabad police relieved as Ayodhya verdict deferred

HYDERABAD - Police in Hyderabad Thursday heaved a sigh of relief with the Supreme Court deferring, till Sep 28, the pronouncement of the verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi dispute by the Lucknow bench of Allahbad High Court.

Andhra Pradesh Police officials said the deferment of verdict till Sep 28 has eased pressure on them. The security agencies, especially police in communally sensitive Hyderabad, were on tenterhooks as the pronouncement of verdict was scheduled Sep 24, coinciding with Friday prayers and coming two days after the Ganesh immersion process.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan had admitted that ensuring peace after the verdict was the second challenge after the peaceful conduct of Ganesh immersion procession Wednesday.

Director General of Police Aravinda Rao, who was to address a press conference to announce security measures in view of the court verdict, cancelled it after learning of the Supreme Court decision.

The state police was having a testing time since the beginning of the 11-day Ganesh festival which began Sep 12, and coincided with Eid-ul-Fitr. The second was Sep 17 when the announcement by some groups announcing of its celebration as “Telangana liberation day” - to mark the merger of Hyderabad State with Indian Union in 1948 - had created tension. The day passed off peacefully amid tight security.

For the mammoth Ganesh immersion procession Wednesday, over 35,000 policemen and personnel of paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed and even the military was asked to stand-by for any emergency.

Khan had announced that the same security measures would continue for Friday. There was no word till late this evening whether 25,000 policemen mobilised from other parts of the state would be sent bank or they would remain till pronouncement of the Ayodhya verdict.