Terror alert in Ayodhya, attackers may enter Uttar Pradesh via Nepal: Intelliegence sources

Intelligence agencies issued a terror alert for Uttar Pradesh’s temple town Ayodhya on Saturday. The sources said that attackers may try to enter the state via Nepal. Buses, railway stations and other public places have been put on high alert following the specific input. "We have put more force into action. The force has been alerted. Also, intelligence officials in the civil dress have come here (Ayodhya). They are checking all hotels, restaurants and railway stations. The police force is vigilant and keeping a track of all the movements," Anil Kumar Sisodia, Superintendent of Police City, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The New Indian Express reported that the Union Home Ministry have also been apprised of the current situation. The intel report mentions sustained efforts made by terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba to set up a base in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Lashkar has been trying to induct people from Faizabad and Gorakhpur, the report said. The terror alert comes ahead of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to Ayodhya. In addition to this, the verdict in 2005 Ayodhya terror attack case is scheduled on June 18.  In June 2005, five militants had been gunned down and four Kashmiri militants were arrested in the case.

Thackeray will visit Ayodhya with 18 newly elected party MPs on Sunday, making a fresh pitch for the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site there. Thackeray will offer prayers at the makeshift Ram Lalla temple at the site. This will be Thackeray's first visit to Ayodhya after the Lok Sabha results last month. He had visited Ayodhya in November last year.

The Shiv Sena had earlier announced that Thackeray and the newly elected MPs would visit Ayodhya before the beginning of the Parliament session on Monday. However, the party's state unit chief Anil Singh said the visit should not been seen from the electoral lens and it was "a matter of devotion and faith". Maharashtra will be going to the polls later in the year.

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(With agency inputs)