NEW DELHI: A 55-year-old man from Jammu and Kashmir was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly tried to offer prayers inside the Ram Mandir complex in Ayodhya and raised slogans when he was stopped, Uttar Pradesh police said.According to Superintendent of Police (Security) Balramchari Dubey, the man has been identified as Ahmed Sheikh, a resident of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said the sheikh entered the temple premises during the day, visited the shrine and later settled near the Sita Rasoi area, allegedly to prepare to offer prayers.The security personnel noticed his actions and immediately intervened, following which he was arrested by the temple security personnel and handed over to the local police. Some sources claimed that the man was shouting slogans when he was stopped, police said, adding that the claim was being verified.Police said Sheikh’s family had claimed that he was mentally ill and had provided medical records from the psychiatric ward of Srinagar Medical College. His son Imran told reporters at their Shopian residence that the family was unaware of Sheikh’s visit to Ayodhya.“We didn’t know about it. He is completely ill,” said Imran.Imran said his father does not stay at home for long and often leaves without informing the family. “He had visited his in-laws’ residence five to six days ago. He keeps going out and doesn’t stay at home,” he said, adding that his father often visits mosques.Neighbors in Shopian said Sheikh was undergoing treatment and taking medication. “If he had been in his right mind, he would not have prayed in a temple. He would have known it was a temple. He often leaves home like this. He doesn’t understand that he has a family to take care of,” said a neighbor.Investigators are questioning Sheikh to determine his intentions and checking his travel details, including the purpose of his visit to Ayodhya and whether anyone else was involved. Police sources said items like cashew nuts and raisins were found in his possession during preliminary checks and the man told investigators that he was traveling to Ajmer.Senior police and intelligence agencies are also reviewing security arrangements at the Ram Mandir complex following the incident. The Ayodhya district administration and the Ram Temple Trust have so far declined to comment.
