VHP to go ahead with yatra; over 200 activists arrested

Massive security arrangements have been made in the temple town

In a crack down on VHP on the eve of its proposed controversial yatra, over 200 activists of the saffron outfit have been arrested by the UP government, even as the outfit has decided to go ahead with the march.

The preventive arrests were made by the authorities, who are fearing communal flare up in the area due to the VHP's proposed 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama', which was banned by the state government.

The ban was today upheld by the Allahabad High Court also.

Meanwhile, the VHP, which held a meeting after the High Court verdict earlier this morning, has resolved to go ahead with the yatra at the scheduled time from tomorrow .

"There is no change in the programme and it would start as per the schedule from the Saryu ghat tomorrow after the puja archana," VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma told PTI.

The arrests were made in different parts of the state and those nabbed included Mahant Santosh Das alias Sathu Baba, a VHP office bearer in Varanasi.

Sixty two people were arrested in Faizabad, 46 in Agra, 63 from Kanpur city, 17 in Fatehpur, 18 from Basti, 7 in Jaunpur and one in Banda, home department spokesman said in Lucknow.

Elaborate arrangements have been made throughout the state, specially in the six districts through which the yatra would pass, with section 144 being put into force.

Other district authorities have also been asked to take steps so that law and order is not disturbed.

Principal Secretary (Home), R M Srivastava held video conference with police officers of the six districts and took stock of the situation, besides giving them directives to maintain utmost vigil in their areas and accord required respect to those who are being arrested as a precautionary measure.

DGP Devraj Nagar said that officials of the six districts have been asked to "strongly impose the ban" on the yatra.

"The DGPs of the adjoining states have been asked to inform in case people from there try to come to take part in this yatra," Nagar said adding that intelligence units and other agencies have been instructed to promptly inform in case of any wrong activity in their areas.