Centre asks states to remain alert in wake of Hyd,Meerut riots

New Delhi, May 15: Concerned over recent communal tension in

and

, the Centre today asked all states to remain alert and take every possible step to foil any attempt by anyone to instigate riots. In an advisory, the Home Ministry asked the states to deploy adequate security forces and ensure peace and communal harmony in all sensitive places.

"We have sent a general advisory to all states. Incidents in Hyderabad and Meerut ought not to have happened in the first place at all," Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami told reporters here. The Home Ministry directive came a day before the results of the general elections. Uttar Pradesh government has already banned victory procession to prevent any law and order crisis.

In a similar step, the Assam government has decided to not to allow victory processions in eleven sensitive districts of the state and announced strict enforcement of prohibitory orders. The Home Ministry has asked states to keep strict vigil near religious places, markets, railway stations, airports, markets and other crowded places to foil any attempt by anyone to disturb peace.

Three persons were killed yesterday in police firing following communal clashes sparked by alleged burning of a religious flag by some persons in Kishanbagh area of the Old City in Hyderabad. One youth was killed following a communal clash in Meerut last week.

PTI