Thick security blanket at Bhojshala

Indore: A day before Basant Panchami, disputed Bhojshala shrine in Dhar district turned into an invincible fortress with black cat commandos, drone cameras, mobile jammer vans and water cannons in place to maintain peace and communal harmony.
More than 6,000 police personnel, including 10 companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been deployed in the city to ensure that Hindus and Muslims perform prayers at different times as directed by ASI.SP Rajesh Hingankar said that about 1,000 policemen are already manning the site. Besides, 140 CCTV cameras and drone cameras have been put in place. Police have planned to use colour in water cannons to disperse mob and also to identify mischievous elements. Inside-out heavy barricading has been done to avoid any untoward incident on Friday. However, like every day, people from both the communities were allowed to enter Bhojshala premises. At 6.15 pm, following sunset, the premises was sealed for the day.
Meanwhile, companies of security forces carried out a flag march from Lal Bagh area to busy streets of the city at 4.30 pm. Tension began building up at Dhar ahead of the 'Basant Panchami' after right wing leader Vijay Singh Rathore demanded that Hindus be allowed dawn-to-dusk access to perform puja at Bhojshala despite the order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) last month.
Last week, ASI order was challenged in MP high court. The ASI order stated that Hindus will perform puja at Bhojshala from sunrise to 12 noon and from 3.30 pm to sunset, while Muslims will offer namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm.
Shankaracharya visit cancelled
Shankaracharya Narendranand Saraswati scheduled got cancelled few hours before his visit on Thursday. Babulal Agrawal, who is looking after preparations, told TOI that his visit was suddenly cancelled. Meanwhile, members of Hindu Jagran Manch (HJM) and Bhoj Utsav Samiti (BUS) took out Amantran Yatra from Jyoti Mandir campus in the town on Thursday morning. HJM leader Gopal Sharma and BUS leader Ashok Jain led the march that passed through all prominent streets of Dhar. They were appealing the people of the town to take part in the Waghdevi procession to be taken out on Friday morning. A group of children took out a cycle rally in the town. They were holding saffron flags in their hands and raising slogans to appeal the people to visit Bhojshala on Friday for taking part in the Basant Panchami celebrations.