LUCKNOW: In order to prevent militant attacks on shrines and monuments of national and international importance, the Uttar Pradesh government has proposed to turn them into no-flying zones.
According to highly-placed sources, a proposal for turning the disputed shrines in Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi (Varanasi) and the Taj Mahal in Agra into no-flying zones will be placed before the Centre. The Centre had asked the state government to prepare a blueprint for upgrading security in places of religious and national interests after the militant attack on Ayodhya on July 5.
The UP government had set up a high-powered committee led by additional director-general (security) of police to suggest measures for upgrading security in Ayodhya, Mathura, Varanasi and Agra.
The committee visited all the four places and after consulting officials representing Central security forces, submitted its report to the DGP last week.
Senior police officials visited all the four places during the weekend to study the feasibility of the measures. The final report will be sent to the Centre by August 5 after which a decision in this regard will be taken. A meeting on the upgradation of security of the three disputed shrines and the Taj Mahal in UP is also likely to take place later this week.
Talking to this newspaper, a senior official in the high-powered committee said that the suggestion of turning these shrines and the Taj Mahal into no-flying zones has been taken in order to prevent possible terror strikes by militants.
“It is clear that the militants must be upset over the failure of the July 5 mission in Ayodhya and will not rest till they have made ‘amends’. After the 9/11 incident, we do not rule out the possibility of militants resorting to air strikes to damage these shrines and monuments. By turning it into a no-flying zone, we will be able to immediately react to any aircraft that enters this zone. If the ban is imposed, not aircraft, helicopter, glider or hot air balloon will be allowed to travel over these places,” he explained. Barely a fortnight ago, two Army helicopters were seen hovering over the Ram Janmabhoomi temple comple in Ayodhya.
The high-powered committee on security has further suggested installation of close circuit TVs at all the four places.
The committee has also suggested a double barricading in the yellow zone of the security formation and including the road that runs parallel to the Taj Mahal.—By arrangement with AsianAge/Delhi.
