The Prime Minister’s security team — the Special Protection Group — and personnel of the National Security Guard (NSG) have taken over the security arrangements for the Pran Pratishtha at the Ayodhya temple.

Security has been tightened with hundreds of cops armed with guns and radios safeguarding the town ahead of the Pran Pratishtha. Sources in the central security establishment said over 2,000 cops (both in uniform and plainclothes) from Uttar Pradesh and central intelligence agencies had been provided wireless radios to communicate with each other and keep an eye on any “suspicious” movements.

“Besides, there are cops at several checkpoints, bomb-sniffing dogs, security cameras, drone surveillance, artificial intelligence solutions and undercover sleuths posted at various pointsin and around the town to ensure fool-proof security on Monday,” an Intelligence Bureau official told The Telegraph.

A six-layer security system, he said, has been put in place and commandos have been strategically deployed in and around the temple complex. CRPF commandos have been deployed near the temple cordon housing the sanctum sanctorum.

“An additional layer with sublayers will be in place for the Prime Minister. UP police will form the sixth and outermost layer, followed by paramilitary forces. The fourth ring will have plainclothes security people while the third will have trained commandos from the state police. Intelligence wing sleuths and frisking teams will form the second ring and the last layer will be secured by NSG commandos,” the official said.

A control room has been set up to coordinate various aspects of security. “Anti-drone systems are also there to prevent aerial threats, while 400 firefighters will remain on standby,” the official added.