Extra cover in Jaipur ahead of top court's landmark judgment

JAIPUR: With Supreme Court’s verdict on Ayodhya dispute expected anytime next month, Jaipur police have started making security arrangements to deal with any kind of repercussions.


The city was on the boil in August when sporadic incidents of clashes was reported triggered mainly by unabated rumour mongering.

“We have not issued any specific orders yet because we don’t want to needlessly sensationalise the case. Festivals are around the corner and general security arrangements have been increased,” said an officer.

Sources claimed that no specific input had been shared with city police in anticipation of the verdict yet. “We need only three to four hours to put the entire city on high alert. Whenever we learn of the verdict’s date, we will increase security arrangements,” the officer said.

After the clashes that had led to clampdown on mobile internet services for several days, police began working with locals to restore normalcy. Several new mohalla samitis had been formed across the city, especially in Walled City areas of Jaipur, to build trust between the two communities and avert repeat of such incidents like stone peltings.

“The major problem is spread of malicious misinformation on social media pages. But our social media wing had been keeping tabs on people who spread hateful messages. One person was recently arrested for making a communally sensitive post on social media,” he added.

Ever since the Union government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August, the intelligence agencies had issued all border states to stand guard. Since then, Rajasthan police had been carrying out special checking and regular monitoring, but the problem of communal tension continues to plague the state with incidents reported in Malpura in Tonk and Gangapur City in Sawai Madhopur districts.