Man held, later let off for bid to offer namaz at Ayodhya

LUCKNOW/AYODHYA: Intelligence agencies on Saturday evening cleared a 55-year-old man from Jammu and Kashmir who was detained inside the Ram Janmabhoomi complex after he was allegedly found attempting to offer namaz near a restricted area. The man was let off after several hours of questioning and verification of antecedents, officials said, report Pathikrit Chakraborty & Arshad Afzaal Khan. Identified as Abu Ahmad Sheikh (55), a resident of Wodapora village in Shopian, he completed darshan and was exiting the temple premises when security personnel noticed him allegedly trying to offer namaz near the southern circumambulatory corridor close to Sita Rasoi, a prohibited zone.

Security staff immediately intervened and detained him for questioning. Intel officials who interrogated Abu said Sheikh's background was thoroughly verified, and a detailed report was sought from the J&K Police, besides verification by the CRPF. "No suspicious object was recovered from his possession, and no criminal record or adverse antecedents were found during verification," officials added. Investigators said no terror links or organisational affiliations emerged during the probe.