Gorakhnath Temple Attack: UP Govt Transfers Case To ATS, Says Terror Angle Can’t Be Ruled Out

The incident took place on Sunday when a person allegedly forcibly entered the Gorakhnath temple and attacked police personnel while injuring one more.

ADG Prashant Kumar | ANI

New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to transfer the Gorakhnath temple attack case to Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) saying that the possibility of terrorism cannot be ruled out, news agency ANI reported.

The incident took place on Sunday when a person forcibly entered the Gorakhnath temple and attacked police personnel.

Prashant Kumar, Additional director general (ADG), Law and Order, on Monday told ANI, "A man forcibly tried to enter the temple premises and attacked the on-duty police personnel with a sharp weapon."

"The accused has been identified as Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi, a resident of Gorakhpur," added the ADG.

He further stated, "The case has been transferred to ATS as we cannot rule out the terror angle in the incident and a detailed investigation has been initiated."

Gorakhpur SSP, Vipin Tada also said, "The accused tried to forcibly enter the Gorakhnath Temple while raising religious slogans but he was stopped by the police."

"Two police personnel have been injured in the incident and treatment is being provided to them," Tada added.

The SSP further stated the sections under which the case has been filed. 

“Cases have been registered against the accused under Section 301 (Attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal code, Section 7 (Molesting a person to prejudice of employment or business) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1932 among others,” he told.

Meanwhile, UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said that the state government has taken cognisance of the incident that took place on Sunday, ANI reported.

“The attempt to illegally enter the Gorakhnath temple and attack the security personnel is extremely sad and condemnable. The state government has given instructions to investigate the incident,” Maurya tweeted.

गोरखनाथ मंदिर में अवैध रूप से घुसने एवं सुरक्षाकर्मियों पर हमले का प्रयास अत्यंत दु:खद एवं निंदनीय है।

प्रदेश सरकार ने इस घटना की जांच करने के निर्देश दिए हैं।

— Keshav Prasad Maurya (@kpmaurya1) April 4, 2022