Gorakhpur attack: Accused sent to 14 day judicial custody, case handed over to ATS

The arrested accused has been identified as Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi, a resident of Gorakhpur and a 2015 graduate of the prestigious IIT (Indian Institute of Technology)-Bombay, who, according to police, tried to forcibly enter the temple premises on Sunday and allegedly attacked the police constables outside the gate of the Mutt while raising religious slogans.

Gorakhpur: Not ruling out the terror angle, the Uttar Pradesh government has handed over the probe to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in the incident involving a person allegedly forcibly entering the Gorakhnath Temple here and assaulting the police personnel.

The accused Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi was produced in the civil court in Gorakhpur on Monday amid tight security arrangements after which the court sent him to 14 days judicial custody. A resident of Gorakhpur and a 2015 graduate of the prestigious IIT (Indian Institute of Technology)-Bombay, Abbasi, according to police, tried to forcibly enter the temple premises on Sunday and allegedly attacked the police constables outside the gate of the Mutt while raising religious slogans.

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," the ADG added.

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," Tada added. The SSP further added, "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."

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that the government has taken cognisance of the incident that took place on Sunday. Two of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constables were injured after the accused tried to enter the temple with a sharp-edged weapon. The injured constables -- Gopal Kumar Gaur and Anil Paswan -- were given first aid at Guru Gorakhnath hospital and are undergoing treatment at BRD Medical College.