IIT Grad Attacks Cops Outside Gorakhnath Temple; UP ATS Takes Over Probe, 3 Detained

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has taken over the investigation into the attack on two Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel at the famous Gorakhnath Temple on Sunday evening. Uttar Pradesh’s additional chief secretary of home Awanish Awasthi has called for a meeting to review the security of Goraksha Peeth. Accused Ahmed Murtuja Abbasi, an IIT graduate, has been caught.

The video of the attack at the gate of the temple in Gorakhpur went viral on social media. Gopal Gaud and Anil Paswan, personnel of the 20th Battalion of PAC, were at the main gate when Abbasi, with a bag in his hand, got into a scuffle with them. Suddenly, he took out a sharp weapon wrapped in a cloth from his bag and attacked and injured the jawans, according to onlookers and the personnel. In the video, Abbasi is seen dodging security personnel brandishing the weapon. Abbasi’s family has claimed he is mentally unstable.

The ATS has detained two suspects from Maharajganj, who are suspected to have provided Abbasi with arms.

In the video, the police were seen attempting to overpower the accused with some throwing bricks at him. Locals were also seen helping the police, who eventually caught him. He was later produced in court and sent to police custody.

The injured constables were given first aid at Guru Gorakhnath hospital and are undergoing treatment at BRD Medical College. Abbasi, too, suffered injuries in the incident and has been admitted to a district hospital. The police are trying to ascertain the motive.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for the two jawans and constable Anurag Rajput for foiling the attack. The reward would be equally shared among them, officials said. CM Adityanath has reached Gorakhpur to visit the injured cops at the hospital.

The UP Home department, in a statement, termed the incident a terror attack on the basis of available evidence. “The attacker was trying to enter the temple premises to carry out an act of terror which was foiled by brave PAC and police personnel,” it said.

Multi-layer security likely for the temple

According to sources, Goraksha Peeth may get multi-layer security after the attack.

Prashant Kumar, additional director general of police (ADG), law and order, told News18: “Our officers posted at the site did a commendable job by stopping a man who was raising religious slogans with a sharp weapon in hand. The accused was also attacking people with the weapon and injured two of the security personnel. The additional SP, along with senior officials, reached the site immediately. The bravery shown by security forces is commendable and a cash reward of Rs 50,000 is being given to the three security personnel. Their names will also be recommended for the Shaurya Award.”

“The investigation has been handed over to the ATS to ascertain if there is any conspiracy behind the incident. The team is examining the items recovered from the accused. We are not denying any possibility at the moment. We are also not ruling out terror angle,” he said.

“As per initial information, the accused studied at IIT. The family of the accused is co-operating. The accused is a resident of Gorakhpur. The Aadhaar card obtained from him was made in Mumbai,” said Kumar.

BJP leaders slam attack

BJP MP from Gorakhpur Ravi Kishan condemned the incident on Twitter, calling it a terror attack.

Union minister Giriraj Singh, meanwhile, said the country does not face a threat because of the rising Muslim population but the “extremist mindset” that was behind the attack on security personnel at Gorakhnath temple, and hit out at the opposition over its “silence” on the incident.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament House Complex, Singh alleged, “The growing population of Muslims in the country is not a threat. The threat is the extremist mindset which takes various forms. Sometimes it seeks Sharia law implementation, sometimes it undertakes hijab protests, at times it protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and at another an educated man acts like a terrorist.”

Hitting out at the opposition, Singh said the “silence” of those who preach secularism all the time over the incident is a bigger threat.

(With PTI inputs)

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