UP ATS begins probing Pak calls to Kashi magistrate

VARANASI: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has begun a probe into a purported caller from Pakistan pressuring a city magistrate to reopen a sealed mosque (Badi Masjid) in the Konia locality of Varanasi, people familiar with the matter in the ATS said.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials also gathered inputs in the matter, they said. A team of ATS officials visited the spot and gathered information, they said. They also met city magistrate Vishram and sought information about the alleged calls from Pakistan, the people familiar with the matter in the ATS said.

City magistrate Dr Vishram said the mosque in Konia locality of Varanasi’s Adampura was sealed in April 2016 after a controversy between Deobandi and Barelvi sects over its control. The matter is pending in his (city magistrate’s) court.

The city magistrate said he received a call from Pakistan from the number +923155061388.

“I received the first call at 1.06am on March 13. The caller, who identified himself as a member of the PML group in Pakistan, pressured me to reopen the sealed mosque. I asked the caller not to call me again and scolded him,” the city magistrate said.

The caller, however, went on to call him 11 times on March 13, the city magistrate said.

Through the truecaller app, the city magistrate found out that the number was of Pakistan, he said. When the (mosque dispute) case came up for hearing in court on March 14, the magistrate asked both the parties to the dispute about the call.

The two parties said they were not aware of the matter, he added. After the hearing, the magistrate informed the Adampur police station about the call from Pakistan.

He said he also made a complete report of the matter and submitted it to district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and senior superintendent of police RK Bhardwaj.

Bhardwaj said, “A probe has been ordered in the matter. Further investigation is on.” “Investigating agencies have also been informed, he added.