Indo-Nepal border under tight vigil ahead of Modi’s Ayodhya visit

The state police and the Sashastra Seema Bal along with intelligence agencies have increased vigil on the India-Nepal border in view of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya, officials said on Wednesday.

The tight watch is being maintained on the porous border of India-Nepal ahead of Modi’s arrival for the inauguration of Shri Ram Airport in Ayodhya on 30 December.

The grand Ram Temple is slated for inauguration on January 22.

“To prevent the movement of unwanted elements in the area, the security agencies have been asked to ascertain the identities of people before allowing them to cross over through the border,” Deputy Inspector General, Sashastra Seema Bal, Gorakhpur, Akhileshvar Singh said.

“Cameras have been put on SSB posts besides the main roads. Dog squads and one platoon of women wing have also been deployed. Metal detectors have been installed at Sonauli and Thuthibari outposts on the Indo-Nepal border,” Singh said.

In addition to this, security agencies such as Indo-Nepal Border Police, Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) and intelligence agencies have been asked to be on alert on the border, Singh added.

Intelligence units have also been asked to keep an eye on religious places along the border.

Police and SSB in Maharajganj, Siddharthanagar, Shravasti and Balrampur districts, which share the border with Nepal, have been put on high alert, the DIG said.

As Ayodhya gears up for the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple next month, a set of imposing sun-themed pillars — ‘Surya Stambhs’ — are being installed along a prominent road of the temple town. Each of the 30-foot-high pillars has an ornamental orb which when lit at night resembles the Sun.

According to a senior official at the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department’s Ayodhya Division, 40 such pillars will be installed on the road — Dharam Path — that connects the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk near Naya Ghat with the Ayodhya Bypass.