Steel Walls & A Roof For Ram Lalla Idol
Security Consideration Forces Centre To Ask SC
To Alter ‘Status Quo’

THE RAM temple will soon have a temporary bulletproof structure on four sides and a wooden roof above. The Centre has proposed civil works to the tune of Rs 4.32 crore at the temple complex as part of the security revamp that envisages erection of a double, mud-filled wall of steel behind Ram Lalla idol to avert rocket attacks, double barricading of the structure and setting up of 21 checkpoints on the approach to the temple.

Given that construction of the 11x11x7.5 ft steel structure on four sides of the idol, internal walls and a double wall of steel behind the structure may involve a change in status quo ordered by the Supreme Court at Ayodhya, the Union home ministry has approached the court seeking its go-ahead for the Rs 4.32-crore civil works plan. This is part of the total Rs 7.22-crore cleared earlier by the MHA for complete security overhaul at Ram temple after it witnessed a jehadi attack on July 5, 2005.

The petition filed with the court on May 17 this year, apart from seeking permission for building bulletproof steel structures to shield Ram Lalla idols from bullet, grenade and rocket attacks, informs the court of the detailed security revamp plan for the Ramjanambhoomi complex at Ayodhya. Incidentally, the news of the Centre having approached the apex court comes exactly a year after a daring fidayeen attack at Ayodhya during which a grenade lobbed by one of the jehadis landed yards short of the sanctum sanctorum.

The delay in moving Supreme Court was mainly on account of issues between the Centre and the UP government on who should approach the apex court for construction of the temporary security structure around the Ram temple. It is believed that the apprehension of political parties ruling at the Centre and UP that any add-ons to the Ram Lalla temple would only enhance its “permanence,” thus antagonising the Muslim vote bank being wooed by either side, was to blame for the go-slow on moving court.

However, security considerations finally seem to have won over narrow political ends. The proposed security revamp will make it extremely difficult, if not virtually impossible, for the jehadis to come within harming distance of the Ram Lalla temple. A temporary, bulletproof, and air-conditioned steel strong room with a wooden proof and internal walls will soon give cover to the idols from bullets and grenade attacks. This is not all. A double mud-filled wall of steel will be erected behind the sanctum sanctorum to avert rocket attacks.

As many as 10 bullet-proof towers will come up in the inner cordon manned by CRPF. This is over and above the 13 watch-towers to be strengthened and bullet-proofed and 20 pucca towers to come up with shade. There will be double barricading of the temple, with a gap of 12 feet between the inner barricade running parallel to outer barricade. Besides the sanctum sanctorum, barricading is proposed for Sita Rasoi and Vishwamitra Ashram. A wall will also come up near Ved Mandir and Singh Dwar.

The height of outer barricades at some placed adjacent to private houses will be raised to 200 m and a 2-metre broad cement concrete passage will be built for motorcycle patrolling. As many as 7 high mast towers will come up. Total power back-up at the complex will be ensured by installation of generators and construction of alternative generator room with new wiring, transformer and shifting. To secure the approach to the temple, the revamp plan provides for construction of a barrier each at 21 check-points, apart from erection of a permanent structure at all the check-points.

There will be two bulletproof commando vehicles stationed permanently outside the temple complex. The proposed civil works are to be carried out jointly by the UP state public works department, UP Power Grid and CPWD. The equipment will be procured through the UP police procurement division.