LUCKNOW, Oct 11: Indian police detained more than fifteen hundred people on Saturday as they gathered in Ayodhya to campaign for the building of a temple on the ruins of the Babri mosque, one of the country’s most divisive issues.

The police rounded up mainly activists of hardline Hindu groups as they converged on Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, days before a march to press for the construction of the temple.

“We are maintaining a strict vigil on the entry of people in large groups into Ayodhya. The police have been authorized to pick up suspicious people and deport them from Faizabad district”, said a magistrate.

Nearly 1,500 heavily armed policemen are now guarding the disputed site while 3,000 paramilitary personnel have fanned out in other parts of Ayodhya. About 2,000 more troops were expected to reach the town soon.—Reuters