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The Times of India
The Times of India
National
Rajeev Dikshit | TNN

Varanasi: Vigil around Gyanpai ‘wuzu' pond area enhanced, officials conduct surprise checks

VARANASI: A day after the Supreme Court ordered the Varanasi district administration to seal off the ‘wuzu' pond (ablution pond) in the Gyanvapi complex where a shivling was purportedly found on Monday during a court-mandated survey, senior administrative and police officials on Wednesday heightened the vigil in the said section of the complex which was earlier sealed on the order of the civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar on May 17.

“The ‘wuzu' area had already been sealed immediately after receiving the order of civil judge (senior division) court on May 17. It is covered and has a fencing of steel angles with doors, which have been sealed to ensure that no one could reach even close to the restricted area. Senior officials are keeping a round-the-clock vigil in the area and also conducting surprise inspections,” DM Kaushal Raj Sharma told TOI.

“Sealing the pond area is like an extra layer of security. It was refilled with water after the survey and now reaching even close to the inner well containing the shivling-like structure is not easy for anyone. Nobody can reach close to the structure without entering the pond,” the DM claimed.

“Surprise inspections are also being conducted by ADM and police officials. Any change in the security plan of Gyanvapi premises would be made according to further order of the SC and local court only,” said DM.

On the demand of the court commission, the DM had called the fisheries department officials to drain out the water of the pond under their supervision to ensure that no damage was caused to the fish present in the pond.

Commissioner of police A Satish Ganesh said the highly sensitive Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque premises were already under a three-layer security cover since 1991.

“A standing committee on security of Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque under the ADG (security) looks after its security related affairs by holding quarterly meetings. The Gyanvapi mosque falls in the red zone (inner cordon) of the premises and is guarded by CRPF, which has deployed its jawans even on watch towers in and around the mosque area to keep a round-the-clock- vigil. One watch tower is also close to the ‘wuzu' pond,” the CP said.

The DM and CP had rushed a team of officials under the ADM (law and order/protocol) to seal the 'wuzu' area of Gyanvapi mosque on May 17 after which the keys of the locks were deposited in the treasury. The process of sealing had been done in the presence of deputy commandant CRPF, ADCP (security) and videographer.

The DM, who inspected Gyanvapi security on Wednesday, directed the CRPF commandant to deploy his jawans inside the Gyanvapi premises after preparing a list of jawans in each shift. The deputy commissioner of police (security) and ACP (security) were also taking stock of the security arrangements at these points thrice everyday since May 17.

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