A day after swift turn of events in UP’s Ayodhya, the Police on Sunday handed over a Kashmiri man, who was detained for allegedly attempting to offer namaz inside the Ram Mandir complex here, to his family members after they produced medical records showing he was mentally ill.
Ahmed Sheikh, a resident of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, was detained on Saturday after security personnel noticed him allegedly preparing to offer namaz within the temple premises.Superintendent of Police (City) Chakrapani Tripathi said Sheikh’s family reached Ayodhya on Saturday evening and informed the police that he was suffering from mental illness.
They also submitted medical documents in support of their claim, following which he was handed over to them, the police officer said.
As part of an investigation into Sheikh’s act, some Kashmiri youths selling shawls in Ayodhya were also questioned, Tripathi said. “No objectionable items were found in their possession. Their addresses were verified and were subsequently released along with their belongings.” Senior police officials said security agencies remain alert, though no further action is being taken in the matter.
The man was on Saturday was identified as 50-year old Ahmed Sheikh, a resident of Shopian district in Kashmir, immediately after which contact was established with his family backhome in Kashmir. He is said to have tried to offer ‘namaz’ near the southern boundary of the Hindu religious site.Sheikh allegedly started raising slogans when some locals tried to stop him.
The security personnel, who reached there on being informed, took him into custody. He was then handed over to the police at Ram Janmabhoomi police station.Some Kashmiri youths, who sold woollen clothes, were also detained, sources informed media.Preliminary investigations also revealed that the man was travelling to Ajmer.Some dry fruits were recovered from him. Sources said that security in the Ram Temple complex was being reviewed in view of the incident.
The family claimed that he is “mentally unsound” and does not stay at home for long.Speaking to reporters at their residence in Shopian, Sheikh’s son, Imran, said the family had no knowledge about his father visiting the Ram Temple. “We didn’t know anything about it. He is totally unsound,” Imran said.
When asked why Sheikh visited Ayodhya, the son said, “He had visited his in-laws’ place five to six days ago. He keeps leaving and does not stay at home”.Imran said his father is mentally unsound, and keeps visiting mosques.The neighbourhood came to know about the incident after police teams reached Sheikh’s home for an enquiry into the incident. A neighbour said Sheikh is mentally unsound and is taking medicines.
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