7 arrested in Ayodhya for attempt to stir riots: Police

While footage showed 8 people on four motorcycles, a probe showed involvement of 11 people SHAILESH PANDEY, Ayodhya SSP

LUCKNOW: Seven people were arrested for dumping objectionable items outside four mosques and a dargah in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya this week, police said.

On the intervening night of April 27 and 28, the accused dumped holy books, meat, inflammatory posters among other items outside mosques in Kashimiri Mohalla, Ghosiyana Ram Nagar, Tatshah, Eidgah Civil Lines and Gulab Shah Dargah allegedly “to take revenge” for the violence in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri on Hanuman Jayanti, Ayodhya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Shailesh Pandey said. “The accused were arrested with the help of CCTV footage. While footage showed eight people on four motorcycles, a detailed investigation revealed the involvement of 11 people.”

Those arrested were identified as Mahesh Kumar Mishra, Pratyush Srivastava, Nitin Kumar, Deepak Kumar Goud alias Gunjan, Brijesh Pandey, Shatrughan Prajapati and Vimal Pandey -- all in the 25-30 age group. “The entire planning was carried out by Mahesh Kumar Mishra, who wanted to take revenge for the Jahangirpuri incident by disrupting the law and order situation before the Alvida namaz. The accused gathered at Brijesh Pandey’s house on April 26 night and left in groups on motorcycles,” the SSP said. Communal violence roiled Jahangirpuri in the national capital on April 16 after stones were pelted at a Hanuman Jayanti procession. Nine people were injured in the incident. At least 28 people were arrested. The recovery of the items from outside the mosques in Ayodhya ahead of the Alvida-ki- namaz & Eid prompted police to step up security in the district. In view of recent incidents of communal violence, CM Yogi Adityanath on April 18 directed authorities to step up vigil.