‘Protect thy neighbour’,chant cops

Members of the majority community in an area,irrespective of their religion,have been asked to give in writing that they will protect religious places and property of the minorities,sources said.

Fresh peace committees have been constituted in villages and urban localities to keep an eye on the situation and alert the force in case of trouble.

Lal said the exercise was part of a special scheme to check communal tension and was being implemented for the first time in UP. As a part of the exercise,registers have been prepared at police stations in sensitive areas through peace committees.

Senior police officers,are in constant touch and are taking assistance of village heads,local leaders and influential persons,Lal said.

A list of “notorious people” has been prepared and those who have been involved in anti-social activities or riots in the past are being arrested,he added.

Besides,UP Police have already roped in government employees,teachers and retired personnel in every area to check anti-social activities.

“A diary has been prepared in every district listing the number of credible and responsible persons of the area who can help the police,” Lal said. This will make it easy for police officers to call these people and ask them to maintain communal harmony,he added.

The diary also has names of local religious leaders,including maulanas and temple priests,and village heads,who will be called upon to issue appeals for peace and communal harmony.