Ahead of Ayodhya Bhumi Pujan, priest and 16 cops test coronavirus positive

Ayodhya : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other VVIP guests are scheduled to attend the Bhumi Pujan ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and days before it, the priest and 16 cops on duty have tested positive for the coronavirus, said a news report.

The event is likely to be held in the presence of 50 guests and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to lay the foundation stone for the temple.

Uttar Pradesh police and Sashastra Seema Bal have been put on high alert in the districts sharing border with Nepal ahead of PM Modi's visit in Ayodhya and Independence Day celebrations.

On Thursday, security was stepped up along the border in Maharajganj, Siddharthanagar, Shrawasti and Bahraich, Additional Director General of Gorakhpur Zone Dawa Sherpa said.

The officials have been asked to properly check the identity of people crossing border.

The ADG referred to “some intelligence inputs” but did not elaborate.