New Delhi, India (CNN) -- India has banned mass text messages for 72 hours, as the country braces for a court verdict that could trigger religious violence.
A decision is expected from the high court of Allahabad late Friday afternoon on a holy site disputed by Hindus and Muslims.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on Wednesday banned mass text messages in an apparent bid to prevent organized violence.
Hindu groups have pushed to build a temple in the ancient town of Ayodhya, to replace a Muslim mosque torn down by a mob in 1992. The destruction of the mosque sparked religious riots in which more than 2,000 people died nationwide.
The northern Indian town has been a religious flash point for more than 400 years. Hindus believe that Lord Rama, one of their most revered deities, was born there.
In 1859, British colonial administrators annexed the site because of growing religious disputes. They created separate Muslim and Hindu places of worship there. In 1949, the gates were locked after Muslims claimed Hindus had placed deities of Lord Rama in their area. A court battle over the site has dragged on for years, and a special bench of the Allahabad court is expected to rule Friday.
CNN
