Ayodhya:The UP govt also arrested senior VHP leader Praveen Togadia on Sunday morning after he defied prohibitory orders.

Togadia was arrested from Gola ghat in Ayodhya.

As per the latest reports Senior VHP leader Ashok Singhal has been detained at Lucknow airport and is likely to be sent back to Delhi.

The town has been under heavy security cover as VHP declared that it will go ahead with the yatra, which has been banned by the ruling Samajwadi Party government fearing a communal flare-up.

A curfew-like situation is prevailing in the town as shops have been shut and Naya Ghat area has been cordoned off.

Former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti and sitting MLA Ram Chandra Yadav have been arrested early on Sunday morning, even as a defiant VHP plans to go ahead with its proposed yatra in this temple town.

Vedanti was arrested around 7am this morning when he had left his house here for the parikrama, police said.

MLA Ram Chandra Yadav was also arrested from here, they said.

Elaborate arrangements have been made throughout the state, especially in the six districts through which the yatra would pass, with section 144 being put into force.

Other district authorities have also been asked to take steps so that law and order is not disturbed. Principal Secretary (Home), RM Srivastava held video conference with police officers of the six districts and took stock of the situation, besides giving them directives to maintain utmost vigil in their areas and accord required respect to those who are being arrested as a precautionary measure.