About 350-strong personnel of the six companies of different wings of para military forces including one company of Rapid Action Force (RAF) began their march in more than 50 vehicles from Mandvi area this evening which was supervised by senior police officials including Commissioner J Mahapatra.

A Vadodara Municipal Corporation spokesman said all four butcher houses in Panigate, Jetalpur, Sayajigunj and Moghulwada areas have been asked to remain close, and a strict watch would also be kept on about 100 other illegal such spots.

The police said preventive measures, including arrests, have been initiated for the past two days, besides `checks' on transportation of animals.

Mahapatra said a combing would also be conducted throughout Sunday night. According to him all the prominent citizens from different communities including politicians had held a meeting in Natraj Mangalwadi on Saturday afternoon and had assured full co-operation in maintaining peace and brotherhood. The VMC floated paid advertisements in local vernaculars ordering butcher houses to be closed.

Though earlier on Friday, the city units of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal had threatened to take law in their hands if the restaurants and eating joints serving non-vegetarian food remained open on the festival day, VHP regional chief Ajay Joshi said the Dal activists ``were for peace in the society and would only request police to check the public display of slaughter of animals.'' While local BJP leader Ashwin Patel too echoed the statement, human rights activist and prominent citizen of the city, Dr J S Bandukwala said that he hoped the festivals would pass off peacefully as there was no reason for tension.

ENS adds from Surat: Though there is no apparent tension in the city on the eve of Mahavir Jayanti and Bakri Id, the police have made elaborate security arrangements as after many years the festivals have fallen on the same day.

Unlike Vadodara, where Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad have expressed displeasure over the animal slaughter on Mahavir Jayanti, and made known their plans to oppose it, no Hindu organisation has come out with any statement.

As many as 5,000 police personnel have been deployed at various places, including 49 communally sensitive points. The local police will be assisted by the Rapid Action Force and Border Wing Home Guards, both have already arrived in the city.

The communally sensitive points will be manned by 24 sections of the State Reserve Police while security has been stepped up around 31 additional points suggested by the Surat Municipal Corporation as potential trouble prone areas.

Forty four mobile vans fitted with wireless sets will move around the city and will be manned by 21 police personnel headed by an officer of the rank of inspector. Three riot vans ``Vajra'' will also move round the clock. Two additional police commissioners along with three deputy commissioners, 10 assistant commissioners, and about 200 sub inspectors will supervise the law and order situation.

Commissioner Kuldip Sharma has asked security personnel to deal with heavy hands persons trying to foment trouble on Monday. While the civic body has issued a directive asking slaughter houses to remain closed, the police commissioner has issued prohibitory orders banning carrying of arms, processions and public meetings.

Kutch, Junagadh and Jamnagar celebrated the festival peacefully, a company of Rapid Action Force took out a flag march in the sensitive areas in Vadodara in the afternoon. The district, with the rest of the State, celebrates the festival tomorrow, coinciding with Mahavir Jayanti.