Ayodhya:

Police intercepted a drone camera flying over the Ram temple route here during a trial of an anti-drone system on Tuesday and shot it down, officials said.

Police lodged an FIR stating that it was a deep conspiracy to create chaos at the Ram temple that might kill devotees in large number.

However, police refused to give further details saying a probe is on in the case.

According to sources, the conspirator has been identified and he is from Gurugram, Haryana.

Earlier, officials said a bomb disposal squad conducted a thorough examination of the drone camera and confirmed that there was no security threat. The case has been registered at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station.

The authorities in Ayodhya have activated the anti-drone security mechanism. Flying drones over the Ram temple is strictly prohibited.

“This system can detect any drone within a 2.5-kilometre radius. During the drill, security forces intercepted a drone camera hovering over the Ram Janmabhoomi temple route,” a police official said.

Police have launched an investigation to trace the drone operator, with intelligence agencies maintaining strict vigilance.

Earlier this year, a senior officer in Lucknow told PTI that the Uttar Pradesh Police had used the high-tech and sophistication anti-drone system for the first time during the consecration of Ram Lalla’s idol at the Ram temple here on January 22, 2024.

The same anti-drone technology has been used for aerial cover at the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and only a few states like Gujarat in the country have till date used it, the officer had said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Lucknow:

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal from the Tata Sons to build a ‘museum of temples’ in Ayodhya at a cost of Rs 650 crore, officials said. Sharing details about the decision, Tourism Minister Jaivir Singh said the tourism department would provide the company land for the international-level museum on a 90-year lease for a token money of Re 1.

“Tata Sons had proposed the project through the central government, offering to build the museum at a cost of Rs 650 crore under its corporate social responsibility fund,” Mr Singh said at a press meet in Lucknow after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The cabinet also okayed the company’s proposal for other development works in the temple town for additional Rs 100 crore, he added.

Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies.

Other proposals approved during the cabinet meeting included the launch of helicopter services in Lucknow, Prayagraj and Kapilvastu under the public-private partnership (PPP) model by building helipads, Mr Singh said.

The cabinet also cleared a proposal to develop dormant heritage buildings into tourist spots, the minister said.

Three such heritage buildings – Kothi Roshan Dulha in Lucknow, Barsana Jal Mahal in Mathura and Shukla Talab (pond) in Kanpur – were selected for development as tourist spots, he said. He added that researchers would be selected under the Mukhya Mantri tourism fellowship programme for the purpose.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)