In pictures: Police flag march on Rath Yatra route in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, 8 July 2013

We are able to visit Shri Somnath mandir only after three barriers of security. One needs to put cameras and mobile phones outside! And one needs to follow almost same rules while visiting major Hindu mandirs at Dwarka, or Akshardham and elsewhere!

Attacks on places of Hindu faith are not new. We know how Somnath mandir was repeatedly attacked in medieval time. In recent time, we know how Akshardham mandir was attacked. We know how Ram jamnabhoomi mandir in Ayodhya was under terror attack. Blasts on Varanasi ghat killed two and injured 37 Hindus in 2010. Mahabodhi mandir blast is just latest.

And whether it is Ganesh Visarjan, or Rath Yatra, Hindu processions regularly need extensive security shield against possible communal/terror attack!

The city of Ahmedabad will witness annual Rath Yatra procession this Wednesday. Amdavad Rath Yatra has seen incidents of violence and communal harmony (also access this link and this link) both in past. Though there’s peace for last over decade in Gujarat, the Police don’t take any chance.

Look at the flag march organized by the Gujarat Police today on Rath Yatra route. Majority of Ahmedabad city police vehicles were part of this security drill.