No liquor, no fireworks on Ayodhya judgment day

LUCKNOW - Besides throwing a security net around the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, the administration here Wednesday ordered closure of all liquor vends and shops selling fireworks ahead of the much-awaited Ayodhya verdict Thursday.

“While prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPc are already in force, banning assembly of ffive of more people, we have also taken a decision to order closure of all liquor shops with effect from Wednesday evening, while shops dealing in fireworks have already been closed,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Rajiv Krishna said at a press conference here.

“The idea behind the move was to prevent any kind of manifestation of rejoicing by people in the wake of the expected verdict,” he said.

“Anyone found violating the orders would be liable to stern punitive action…no one would be spared,” Krishna warned.

Besides, as a preventive measure, as many as 1,450 people have been bound down with a written undertaking not to indulge in any activity that could provoke or incite others, while licenced weapons of 125 people have been seized.

Processions of all kinds have also been banned though schools, colleges and markets will remain open.