Call for 'Hanuman Chalisa' recitation puts Mathura cops on alert

The state police has beefed up security in Mathura after Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's call for reciting Hanuman Chalisa inside Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi complex-Shahi Idgah Masjid maidan on Tuesday

New Delhi, Dec 06: The Uttar Pradesh Police has put up barricades and vehicle checks are being done in various places in Mathura following the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's call for reciting Hanuman Chalisa inside Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi complex-Shahi Idgah Masjid maidan on Tuesday, with the district police chief asserting that 'no new tradition or ritual' would be allowed.

Nearly 1,500 police, armed constabulary and paramilitary force personnel were being deployed and traffic restrictions enforced near Shri Krishna Janmasthan temple and Shahi Masjid Idgah in the temple town, officials said on Monday. Only school vehicles and ambulances have been given exemption, they said. ''No new tradition or ritual would be allowed to be performed,'' Senior Superintendent of Police Shailesh Pandey told news agency PTI.

"The orders of the Supreme Court would be followed and the implementation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in letter and spirit would be ensured. Nobody will be allowed to take the law into his own hands and spoil the peace of this pilgrim city," Shailesh Pandey was quoted as saying by PTI.

Nobody will be allowed to take the law into his own hands and spoil peace of this pilgrim city, officials stated.

On Monday, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha national treasurer Dinesh Kaushik said they would go ahead with the programme. ''In case the administration does not allow us to proceed, we will recite Hanuman Chalisa at the place where we will be stopped,'' he said.

He threatened to commit suicide if they were stopped by the administration. He also claimed that many workers of the organisation were put under house arrest. The organisation had given a similar call last year but their plan was scuttled by the district administration.

It must be noted that the Hindu Mahasabha had given a similar call last year but their plan was scuttled by the district administration.