Goraknath temple attack: Father of accused claims son is "mentally unstable" but UP govt doesn't rule out terror angle

Lucknow, Apr 5: The father of the Goraknath Temple attack accused said his son is mentally not stable and had no planning to commit the offence. On the other hand, the Uttar Pradesh government has not ruled out the terror angle wherein IIT chemical engineer, Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi, forcibly entered the Gorakhnath Temple and assaulted the police personnel. The govt has decided to hand over the probe to the Anti-Terrorism Squad.

 

 

"He is not mentally stable. Since childhood, he is suffering from depression. He also received medical treatment. Due to some developments, he believed that police were after him. He had no planning and did this due to his current mental state," Munir Ahmed Abbasi, the father of the accused told ANI.

 

 

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met the two police personnel who were injured in the Gorakhnath temple attack at BRD Medical College.

 

Besides, Prashant Kumar, Additional director general (ADG), Law and Order, on Monday said, "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. 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."

 

 

Vipin Tada, SSP Gorakhpur, 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. 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."

 

 

Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi attacked two police constables with a sharp-edged weapon at the Gorakhnath temple gate in Gorakhpur on Sunday night. The two police constables have been admitted to hospital with serious injuries. The assailant too was injured and admitted to a hospital. He was raising religious slogan "Allahu Akbar" while entering the temple. It should be noted that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is the head priest of the Gorakhnath temple.

 

Murtaza was desperate to enter the temple but was stopped by security personnel him for checking. He tried to snatch their weapons but when he failed, he drew a sharp weapon and attacked the Police personnel. After that, he approached the main gate of the temple while shouting ‘Allah-hu-Akbar’. Several gathered near the temple and tried to stop him.

 

 

“We are looking into all angles, including terror. The police will interrogate Ahmed Murtaza and would carry out a thorough investigation,” said Additional Director General (Gorakhpur zone) Akhil Kumar. Reports suggest that he had completed his education in Mumbai and quit his job in a private firm. Besides, the UP government recenty had created the posts of an additional superintendent of police (ASP) and a deputy superintendent of police for the security of Gorakhnath temple. Notably, an Additional SP (Security) was posted at the Gorakhnath temple in January this year.

 

The Gorakhnath temple emerged as a political power centre after its head mahant Yogi Adityanath became the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister in 2017. The temple has a large number of followers across the country.