UP anti-terror court hands death penalty to convict in Gorakhnath temple attack

Abbasi attacked the security personnel deployed at the premises with a sickle on April 3 last year. Two Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constables were injured in the incident. He was overpowered by the security personnel and arrested.

A Muslim man charged with anti-terror law for attacking security personnel with sickle in Gorakhpur has been handed out death penalty by an NIA court in Lucknow on Monday. At least two security men were injured in the attack.

Abbasi indulged into scuffle with the two security personnel at the gate of the temple. Suddenly he took out a sharp-edged weapon and started brandishing there injuring the jawans.

Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi was convicted on Saturday. He had attacked security staff at Gorakhpur’s Gorakhnath temple last year. According to the FIR, the Indian Institute of Technology graduate had tried to forcibly enter the Gorakhnath temple premises on April 3 last year.

Two Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constables were injured in the incident. He was overpowered by the security personnel and arrested. The Uttar Pradesh ATS had carried out the investigation in connection with the incident, according to Hindustan Times.

Prashant Kumar, additional director general of police (ADG-Law and Order), had said there could be a terror angle behind the incident.

The video of the attack at the temple went viral across social media platforms. Gopal Gaud and Anil Paswan were at the main gate. Abbasi, with a bag in his hand, got into a scuffle with them. Suddenly, he took out a sharp weapon wrapped in a cloth from his bag and attacked the jawans. In the video, Abbasi was seen dodging security personnel brandishing the weapon. Abbasi family claimed that he was mentally unstable.

The Uttar Pradesh Home Department had also termed the incident as a part of a deep conspiracy and could be said it was a terror incident.

– INDIA NEWS STREAM