Day 2 of Gyanvapi mosque survey completed amid reinforced security

On Sunday, the verandah, roof, dome, outer wall, pond etc. are to be videographed and photographed as per court directions.

The second day of survey work inside the Gyanvapi mosque has been completed. On Sunday -- the second day -- a survey of the upper part of the premises was done by the court-appointed commissioners. The domes and walls of the mosque were surveyed on Sunday. 

During the survey, every corner of the premises was videographed. There are no details out yet with regard to what has been found in the survey. 

The police is keeping an eye on social media so that there is no trouble of any kind. The survey could not be completed on Sunday due to a certain amount of debris inside. The videography will resume on Monday after the debris is cleaned.

Varanasi Police Commissioner A Satish Ganesh said that the level of security had been increased on Sunday when compared to the day before. To note, there was a 10-layer security cordon outside the mosque premises on Saturday. A day later, that security cordon has been increased to 12 layers. 

From the point of view of security, shops have been closed and barricades have been put up for about 500 meters on both sides of the mosque's gate number four. No vehicle is being allowed on the Godauliya-Maidagin road. Visitors are being made to enter Kashi Vishwanath temple through the streets. Police and PAC personnel are stationed at various places within a kilometre radius of the Gyanvapi mosque. Security personnel have also been deployed at roof-tops within a radius of 500 meters of the mosque. Entry to the Kashi Vishwanath temple has been barred from the gate near the Gyanvapi mosque.

The Commissioner further said that full attention is being paid to ensure that there is no inconvenience to the devotees. The officer himself marched on foot and appealed for peace. On the second day of the survey, the investigation team reached the spot at around 7.30 am. 

Court commissioner Vishal Singh said that the survey is going on peacefully. He further said that all sides have been cooperating in the survey work. Following the order of the Varanasi civil court, 50 per cent of the videography and survey work inside the mosque premises was completed on Saturday. When asked whether the survey work would be completed on Sunday, Singh said, "Let us see how much work can be done." 

The court has directed that the survey process should be completed before May 17.