Ayodhya: How alert security personnel stopped Kashmir man from attempting to offer namaz on Ram temple campus; detained | Lucknow News

AYODHYA/LUCKNOW: Forces at the high-security Ram Janmabhoomi complex went into a tizy on Saturday evening after a 55-year-old man from Kashmir entered the temple campus and allegedly attempted to offer namaz near a restricted area. Alert security personnel intervened promptly and detained Abu Ahmad Sheikh (55), for questioning after he was allegedly attempting to offer namaz near the southern circumambulatory corridor of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex, close to the Sita Rasoi.

Sheikh is a resident of Wodapora village in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said he had completed darshan and was exiting the premises when security personnel noticed his actions and immediately restrained him. Sources said the man raised slogans after being stopped, following which intelligence agencies and police teams swung into action. He was taken to the Ram Janmabhoomi police outpost located within the complex and is being questioned under the supervision of SP (Security) Balramachari Dubey.SSP Ayodhya Gaurav Grover said the man’s antecedents were being verified and a detailed report had been sought from Jammu and Kashmir Police. “No suspicious object has been recovered from his possession so far,” Grover said, adding that the matter was being examined from all angles. The district administration and the Ram Temple Trust have not issued any official statement yet. The incident inside the high-security Ram temple complex on Saturday has once again brought Ayodhya’s security architecture under sharp focus, with former directors general of police warning that the shrine’s protection must remain uncompromising, technology-driven and constantly evolving in view of its religious significance and rising threat perception. Former DGP Vikram Singh said the incident underlined why Ayodhya’s security framework cannot afford even the smallest lapse. “The Ram Janmabhoomi complex is not just a place of worship; it is the holiest centre of Sanatan faith. The sheer number of pilgrims visiting the temple and the sanctum sanctorum every day reflects its sanctity and also its vulnerability. Managing such a sacred space is a matter of satisfaction, but it comes with enormous responsibility,” Singh said. He cautioned that open threats and provocative public statements by fringe elements—though un-Islamic in nature— could mislead susceptible individuals and embolden extremist intent. “We have seen people making statements about razing the temple structure. Today’s incident involving a Kashmiri man is another indicator that fanatics and perverts may try devious routes to test the system,” Singh said. “The state and the police have a clear task. Every threat perception must be anticipated and neutralised. No person with negative or malignant intent towards the Ram temple should be allowed anywhere near the premises,” he added. Singh said that while earlier attempts were thwarted under relatively basic security arrangements, the current and future framework must be “absolutely foolproof and fail-proof.” The former DGP strongly advocated mandatory facial recognition systems, real-time identification of undesirable elements and strict airport-style access protocols. “Entry should be like boarding an aircraft—no mobile phones, no electronic gadgets, no contraptions, nothing unnecessary. Anyone attempting mischief must know there will be serious and unavoidable consequences,” he stressed. Backing this assessment, former DGP OP Singh said security in Ayodhya cannot be treated as a static arrangement. “Security here is a living system. It must continuously evolve with emerging threats, growing footfall and the temple’s heightened symbolic importance. Regular technological upgrades, intelligence coordination and constant human preparedness are not optional—they are essential,” he said. At present, the Ram Janmabhoomi complex follows a multi-layered security grid with regulated access points. Gate D1 is used for common darshan, while separate routes exist for Sugam Darshan, wheelchair access and controlled crossings for VVIP and Vishisht Darshan pass-holders. The inner cordon security of the temple continues to be handled by the CRPF, supported by six companies of the force, along with 12 companies of the Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (SSF) and PAC deployed across different layers. Senior police officials said that when Ayodhya’s security blueprint was drawn, best practices from high-security religious sites such as the Akshardham temple in Ahmedabad and the Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati were studied and adapted. The renewed focus on security comes amid a series of threats received by the temple over the past year. In August 2024, a WhatsApp message sent to the helpdesk number of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust threatened to destroy the temple using “4,000 kg of RDX.” The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad later arrested Mohammad Maqsood from Bhagalpur in Bihar in connection with the threat. Other incidents included a threat traced to a minor in Kushinagar and a bomb threat issued by SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in November 2024. Since the consecration of Ram Lalla, around 1.5 lakh devotees have been visiting the shrine daily, significantly increasing its security sensitivity. In view of repeated threats and rising footfall, the state is preparing to establish a permanent NSG hub in Ayodhya to strengthen rapid response to terror threats and high-risk situations. Both former DGPs stressed that incidents like Saturday’s detention should be treated as reminders, not alarms. Sustained vigilance, advanced screening mechanisms and proactive intelligence gathering, they said, remain crucial to preserving the sanctity and safety of the Ram temple amid an increasingly complex security landscape.