Gorakhpur

The judicial custody of accused Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, accused of attacking policemen in the Gorakhnath temple has been extended by 14 more days after he was presented before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) court in Gorakhpur on Saturday.

The court also transferred Abbasi's case to Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) or National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Lucknow.

"Court has transferred the case of Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi to ATS or NIA Special Court in Lucknow. His judicial custody has been extended to 14 more days. He will be produced before Special Court. ATS has sought his remand under sections of UAPA," lawyer PK Dubey told ANI.

On April 3, 2022, a man forcibly tried to enter the Gorakhnath Temple premises and attacked the on-duty police personnel with a sharp weapon.

Not ruling out the terror angle in forcibly entering the Gorakhnath Temple and assaulting the police personnel, the Uttar Pradesh government had handed over the probe to the Anti-Terrorism Squad after the accused got arrested.

Murtaza's father also said that the accused is mentally not stable and had no plan to commit the offence.

On Tuesday, Chief Superintendent of Gorakhpur Sadar Hospital Dr JSP Singh, refused to comment on Murtaza’s mental condition.

"No such evidence can be substantiated which would suggest if the accused is mentally unfit," he added.
Uttar Pradesh ATS on Friday said that eight people have been taken into custody in this case.