UP: IIT graduate attacks two constables at Gorakhnath temple; ATS to probe
Gorakhpur/Lucknow, Apr 4: An IIT graduate attacked two policemen with a sharp-edged weapon at a gate of the famed Gorakhnath temple and tried to barge into premises before being overpowered, Uttar Pradesh officials said Monday terming it a "terror incident".
The attack occurred on Sunday evening at the temple which is under high security as it is frequently visited by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is the head seer.
The accused, identified as Murtaza Abbasi, was arrested and has been sent to judicial remand for two weeks, police said and alleged that he tried to forcibly enter the temple, which was teeming with devotees during the Navratri festival, after raising the religious slogan.
Videos shared on social media showed the man brandishing a large sickle and roaming around on the premises, as some took cover while others threw stones at him. Soon a group a devotees along with security personnel surrounded him and pinned him to the ground.
Murtaza was earlier taken to hospital and produced in a local court on Monday. His father Munir Abbasi said Murtaza belonged to the 2015 batch of IIT-Mumbai and was a chemical engineer.
Speaking to a TV channel, he claimed that his son was mentally unstable and that this should be taken into account.
In a statement, the UP Home Department said, "The attack on police jawans at Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur is a part of deep conspiracy, and based on the available facts, it can be said that it was a terror incident."
ADG, Gorakhpur zone, Akhil Kumar said Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constables Gopal Gaur and Anil Paswan were injured as they tried to stop the accused who went to a PAC post near gate no 1 and attacked the security personnel.
Chief Minister Adityanath visited the injured constables at the BRD Medical College hospital. He has announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for the two jawans and constable Anurag Rajput for foiling the attack.
Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said the documents recovered from Abbasi are quite sensational .
He said that if the accused had managed to enter the temple, the devotees would have been harmed and the situation could have gone out of control.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said in Lucknow that the incident will be investigated by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Directions have been given to UP ATS and UP STF to work jointly to probe the incident, he said
SSP Gorakhpur Vipin Tada said that a case under various serious sections including section 307 IPC (attempt to murder) and section 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act have been registered against the attacker.
Details emerging in the interrogation of the accused during questioning will be investigated by five teams, he said.
Police teams are being sent to other districts to verify information provided by the attacker till now, the SSP said, adding that things recovered from his possession, his family, relatives and background and the nearby CCTV cameras are being checked.
Action will be taken on the basis of the investigation report, he said.
The attacker had tried to enter the temple premises with bad intention, which was neutralised by the brave jawans of the PAC and police, the state Home Department said.
The Gorakhnath temple is the highest Peeth of the Nath sect and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath is the Mahant of this Peeth.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Allahabad HC asks CBI, ED to inquire disproportionate assets allegation against Rahul Gandhi
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate to conduct an inquiry into the allegations of amassing of disproportionate assets by Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
The court has asked the agencies to submit the progress of the inquiry on July 20.
A division bench of Justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Zafeer Ahmad passed the order while hearing a criminal writ petition moved by a Karnataka BJP worker, S Vignesh Shishir.
The petitioner has alleged accumulation of disproportionate assets by Gandhi and sought direction of an inquiry into the matter.
The bench conducted an in-chamber hearing in the case on May 12.
In its order published on the high court's website on Thursday, the bench observed, "It is expected that if the complaint of the petitioner has been received, the allegations may be verified as per law. It is needless to say that the CBI or ED may take appropriate steps permissible under the law."
Besides the CBI and ED, the bench has also directed the Central government's Department of Personnel and Training, the Department of Revenue, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Director of Serious Fraud Investigation Office to file their responses on the allegations levelled by the petition within eight weeks.
According to the order, the CBI and the ED have informed the bench that they have received the petitioner's complaint and would file a response before the court.
To a query on whether the petition was maintainable, the bench said that this submission would be tested after receiving the counter-affidavits of the respective parties and the rejoinder affidavits thereof.
The court also ordered its senior registrar to keep the paper-book and the loose documents provided by the petitioner in a sealed cover to be opened on the next hearing.
