A three-layered security cordon — manned by the Special Security Force (SSF), a dedicated force set up by Uttar Pradesh government to guard temples and vital installations; CRPF; provincial armed constabulary (PAC) and UP civil police — will guard the grand Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Consecration

A 3-layered security cordon — manned by the Special Security Force, a dedicated force set up by UP gov to guard temples and vital installations; CRPF; provincial armed constabulary (PAC) and UP civil police — will guard the grand Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya as it witnesses the Pran pratishtha ceremony. Sources said around 100 commandos of SSF trained by National Security Guard (NSG) in highly-specialised anti-terror tactics and intervention drills, have taken vantage positions in and around the temple complex to ward off all possible security threats.

NSG has, over the past 2-3 months, trained SSF personnel in anti-terror tactics and intervention techniques. Other skills imparted include reflexes and precision firing with assault rifles, MP5 guns & pistols; and counter-IED techniques. The SSF commandos were taught close combat focused on enhancing upper body strength, agility and flexibility. SSF media cell in charge Vivek Srivastava told TOI that CRPF, which has been guarding the Ramjanambhoomi site since the early Nineties, will be deployed in the main temple cordon housing the sanctum sanctorum. SSF, comprising personnel on deputation from the UP police and PAC, has the largest component with 1,400 personnel deployed largely in the ‘red’ zone located just outside the main cordon.

The ‘yellow’ zone comprising areas outside the red zone will have the presence of PAC and UP civil police, apart from some SSF personnel who will be patrolling the temple surroundings. UP police is braced to handle law and order duties in Ayodhya with the deployment of extra force, drones, CCTVs and artificial intelligence solutions. “For the pran pratishtha, SPG will also be involved in the security arrangements (since the Prime Minister will be there),” said Srivastava. He said around 100 SSF commandos have been deployed at the temple complex after completing their specialised training by NSG in anti-terror drills and other skill sets.

While around 400 SSF personnel have been trained by NSG, only 100 — possibly the ones who received a higher level of training — are deployed at Ram temple as of now. SSF may eventually fully take over security of the Ram temple at Ayodhya. As of now, CRPF remains deployed, guarding the inner temple cordon, also known as the ‘isolation zone’.