Revered by Hindus as the place where Lord Ram was born, the ancient site of a controversial new temple near the site of a razed mosque in the Indian city of Ayodhya is also being cited as an example of ultra-modern security measures.
Inaugurated by nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a consecration ceremony on Monday, the Ram Mandir, a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Ram, has long been a focal point of religious and socio-political discussions in India and is the subject of threats of attacks by Islamist militant groups.
The temple stands near the site of the 16th-Century Babri Mosque that was razed to the ground by Hindus in 1992. Building the temple there has been a triumph for resurgent nationalists in general and for Modi in particular.
That also makes it the subject of serious threats.
"Ram Mandir will be raised [sic] to the ground, sooner or later," said The Resistance Front, an offshoot of U.S designated terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba.
It promised vengeance against Hindus after the consecration that it described as a "satanic incident", saying "It will be worst, a Tsunami awaiting for whole Hindutva forces"
The temple was built at a cost of over $66 million, raised in donations from across the country, according to local media. A Supreme Court judgment in 2019 ruled on the disputed ownership of the land between supporters of the temple and the Babri Mosque, built centuries earlier by Muslim rulers who dominated the land at the time.
Among Hindu deities, Rama is among the most widely worshipped.
Modi's Involvement
Highlighting his personal connection to the temple, Modi embarked on an 11-day spiritual ritual for the consecration. India is set to hold general elections in April/May 2024 and the temple has important political resonance.
As well as the Muslim opposition to the Ram Mandir project, there was also controversy among some Hindus — this was partly over the limited number of invitations to the event while some Hindu priests expressed their displeasure around the timing of the ceremony.
In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, KK Sharma, the Security Advisor of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee, detailed the extensive, near White House like security measures.
"We've witnessed a tremendous increase in footfall at the Ram Mandir, reflecting its growing importance as a cultural and religious destination," Sharma said.
"Our security approach is a three-fold endeavour. First, we've incorporated the latest gadgets and technology... Secondly, we aim to ensure the least inconvenience to people... Lastly, our focus is also on pilgrim facilitation," he said.
This approach entailed deploying around 13,000 security personnel, including specialized anti-bomb squads and NDRF teams, and setting up advanced surveillance with 10,000 AI-powered CCTV cameras and drones for the main event on the 22nd January.
Countering Threats
Sharma highlighted the constant vigilance against armed threats, especially from Pakistani organizations that have been designated as terror organisations by the U.S government as well as India, such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The temple has been a target for major armed acts, including a significant one in 2005 by LeT. "Since the 2005 terrorist attack, where all five threats were neutralized, we've significantly beefed up security," Sharma said.
The security arrangements for the grand consecration also included comprehensive emergency preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks. Constant drone surveillance and multiple access control points helped ensuring smooth flow during the consecration ceremony.
The security along the Saryu river was intensified with the assistance of NDRF and State Disaster Response Force teams. Checks at international and inter-state borders were stepped up.
For the high-profile consecration event, the SPG, akin to the U.S Secret Service, took charge. "The SPG has taken over the venue with special security arrangements. Now, no one can enter Ayodhya without a pass or an invite," Sharma said.
"Technology acts as a force multiplier in our security setup. Even after, we will have quick response teams (QRT) in place, any bold attempt at disrupting peace will be promptly countered," he said.
"We will incorporate latest gadgets and will also have a facial recognition system in place which is connected to the local police and India's Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) database. This tech will help the security teams to launch preventive and proactive steps to neutralise any threats," Sharma said. "We're committed to maintaining the sanctity and safety of this revered site.
Corrected 01/23/24 at 4:43 a.m. ET corrects name to Sharma in paragraph 12
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