India is braced for violence over an imminent court ruling which will decide whether Muslims or Hindus own the site of a 16th century mosque.
Athletes are arriving in large numbers for the Delhi Commonwealth Games and the warning of religious violence has added to worries about security.
Thousands of paramilitary and riot police have been deployed as the country braces for a backlash over the High Court ruling which will decide which religion the ancient site of Ayodhya belongs to.
The dispute over Ayodhya has been going on for 60 years and has already caused violence. In 1992, Hindu hard-liners destroyed the site’s 16th Century Babri Mosque to build a temple to the Hindu God Rama claiming that it is his birthplace.
Muslims, however, want to rebuild their mosque.
India is already on alert for a potential terrorist attack on the Commonwealth Games and its security personnel will be stretched even further by the threat of riots.
A huge contingent of around 1,250 athletes and officials have now checked into the Commonwealth Games Village, taking the total number of its residents to well over 5,500.
Words: Frankie Mullin
