Yogi to visit home turf day after cops attacked at Gorakhnath temple

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to pay a visit to Gorakhpur on Monday. The visit comes a day after two police constables deployed at the Gorakhnath temple were attacked late in the night in the district.

Located in the chief minister’s home turf, Gorakhnath temple is part of the Gorakhnath Math, whose head priest is Adityanath.

“Two of our provincial armed constabulary (PAC) constables were injured after the accused tried to enter the temple with a sharp-edged weapon. He went to a PAC post near the gate and tried to attack the police,” ADG, Gorakhpur zone, Akhil Kumar, told news agency ANI.

Police suspects there could be a terror angle given the fact that Aditynath visits the region often. Security of the temple premises has been tightened over an increased threat perception. “There could be terror angle in it, case to be transferred to Anti-terror Squad,” said UP ADG (law and order) Prashant Kumar.

Officials said the accused, identified as Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, was overpowered by a group of security personnel after over 10 minutes during which he was injured. Later, he was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Initial probe suggested the accused was not alone. He was accompanied by somebody else, but the second person fled the scene, a police officer said.

Deputy inspector general of police (Gorakhpur range) J Ravinder Goud, along with senior superintendent of police Vipin Tada, have visited the spot after the incident.

The Gorakhnath Math is a temple of the Nath monastic group of the Nath tradition. The Nath tradition was founded by guru Matsyendranath. The temple performs various cultural and social activities and serves as the cultural hub of the city.