Excavation work begins in Ayodhya

The excavation work at the disputed site in Ayodhya to find whether a temple existed beneath the demolished Babri mosque began on Wednesday morning.

The main plaintiff in the title suit that led the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court to order excavations, however, has announced his boycott of the work.

The process began around 10:30 hrs with a general survey of the site in the presence of the contending parties or their nominees as per the fresh guidelines of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court, which is hearing the title suit.

Zafariyab Geelani of the Sunni Waqf Central Board, accompanied by two archaelogists R K Takran and Mohammed Abid and the VHP organising secretary Champat Rai along with historians Ranjana Agnihotri and Prasad were among those present when the survey was conducted by the Archaelogical Survey of India team led by Dr B R Mani.

Earlier, Mohammed Hashim Ansari, main plaintiff in the title suit, announced his decision to boycott the exercise terming it a "political drama."