On Thursday, October 3rd, Uttar Pradesh police apprehended three men—Rahul, Nanak, and Wazir Khan—from Mathura district for allegedly entering the Dasna Devi temple near Ghaziabad under false pretenses. The trio, who are reportedly Muslim, utilized Hindu names and claimed to be performers participating in the Ramlila to gain access to the temple, which is overseen by the controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand.
Incident Overview
The apprehension of the three men comes amid rising tensions surrounding the Dasna temple, particularly after Islamists began issuing threats against Yati Narsinghanand following remarks he made regarding Prophet Muhammad. These threats included the ominous “Sar Tan se Juda” (STSJ) slogan, urging violence against those they consider blasphemers.
दिनांक 04.10.2024 को डासना मंदिर पर कुछ लडको द्वारा मंदिर के बाहर हल्ला किया जा रहा था जिनको पुलिस बल द्वारा तत्काल संज्ञान लेते हुए खदेड़ दिया गया था । मंदिर परिसर के आस-पास पूर्णतः शान्ति बनी हुई है । वहाँ पर और अधिक पुलिस बल लगा दिया गया है ।(1/2)@Uppolice pic.twitter.com/ubk92VFUAR
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GHAZIABAD (@ghaziabadpolice) October 4, 2024
The men reportedly presented Aadhaar cards displaying Hindu names to gain entry to the temple, misleading temple officials and worshippers about their religious identity. ACP Lipi Nagayach stated, “During checks, the police on duty at the temple found that the three men were using Aadhaar cards with Hindu names, though they are Muslims. They had arrived there to perform at the Ramlila.”
Legal Action and Charges
Following their arrest, the three individuals were charged under Sections 298 (defiling a place of worship) and 319 (cheating by impersonation) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. The First Information Report (FIR) noted, “The three men had the intention of insulting the Hindu religion, and that is why they were trying to enter the temple.”
Yati Narsinghanand condemned the actions of the accused, asserting that Muslims should be barred from entering the temple due to potential threats posed to the Hindu faith. He called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Previous Incidents
This recent incident is not the first of its kind at the Dasna Devi temple. In May 2023, a man named Mohsin was detained for entering the temple with two minor girls, one of whom was Hindu and the other Muslim. The group had reportedly entered the temple using the Aadhaar card of the Hindu girl, raising concerns about the security protocols at religious sites.
Ongoing Tensions
The atmosphere around the Dasna Devi temple has become increasingly volatile. On Friday, October 4th, a group of Muslim youths reportedly created chaos outside the temple premises, prompting police intervention to restore order.
Yati Narsinghanand has been a polarizing figure, particularly after his speech at Hindu Bhawan in Ghaziabad on September 29th, where he provocatively urged Hindus to burn effigies of Muhammad, likening contemporary threats to historical villains like Ravan. His comments have drawn significant backlash, leading to continued threats against his life from Islamist groups.
The situation remains tense as authorities assess the risks posed to the temple and its priest, while the community grapples with the implications of rising religious tensions.