A controversy over the Panchmukhi Hanuman temple located at Guptar ghat in the Cantonment area of Ayodhya district once again took a serious turn when in the early hours of Sunday, bombs were allegedly hurled targeting the room of Mahant Vimal Krishnadas in the temple premises.
There were four loud explosions in the temple premises. The mahant narrowly escaped the attack but the window of his room was damaged.
Bomb disposal squad and forensic team reached the spot and carried out an investigation.
This attack is said to be related to a dispute over possession of the temple.
Mahant Vimal Krishnadas said that he was sleeping in the morning on Sunday when there was a loud explosion. Krishnadas said that luckily he was sleeping in another room and not the room in which the bombs were hurled. He said that after hearing a loud explosion, he and other occupants of the temple, including those living in the area, came out in panic but by then the assailants had managed to escape.
The mahant claimed that he was in the service of the temple for almost three years and had been attacked earlier too. Presently the arrangement of the temple is being managed by the Maniramdas Cantonment Trust. Chanda Baba, a resident of Sadar Bazaar, claims that he owns the temple. The mahant has accused him of conspiring the attack on Sunday.
Local police along with senior officers rushed to the spot and carried out an investigation. They also called forensic experts to collect evidence from the spot. Police have secured the remains of the bomb from the spot for investigation. According to the police, the bomb appears to be used in fireworks. The investigation report will be available soon.
The police were reportedly interrogating three people including Chanda Baba’s brother Gulli after taking them in custody.
Senior Superintendent of Police Rajkaran Nayyar said that in the investigation so far and in the investigation of CCTV footage, it has not been confirmed that anyone ran away after throwing the bomb. The investigation is underway by taking the suspects into custody.
There was a dispute over the Hanuman temple on July 24 also. Chanda Baba had accused Mahant Vimal Krishnadas and his associates of assault. The FIR is registered in the Cantonment police station.
A video of this incident was also circulated on the internet. The SSP said that the old dispute had also been brought under investigation. The said charge sheet was going to be filed in this case.
