Tension in Aligarh after ‘religious slogans found on walls of four temples’; Karni Sena stages protest

Police conducted an inspection of the area and questioned several locals, who provided some preliminary information. The SSP added that the slogans written on the temple walls have been removed, and an investigation is underway. The two villages are located within a 1-km radius and police forces are deployed in the area to maintain peace.

Soon after the news spread, members of the Karni Sena reached Bhagwanpur and created a ruckus, alleging that the act was a deliberate attempt to disturb communal harmony in the area.

Based on a complaint by Gyanendra Singh Chauhan, national vice-president of the Karni Sena, police registered the case against the seven people under sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the BNS at Lodha police station in Aligarh.

According to police, while one of the accused is from outside the area, the rest are residents of Bhagwanpur village. No one has been arrested so far.

As per the FIR lodged in the case, Chauhan alleged that the accused wrote ‘I LOVE MOH’ slogans on the walls of the temples.

Station House Officer (SHO) of Lodha police station, Ankit Kumar, said the complainant has named seven persons and has suspected their involvement in the incident. “We are verifying the allegations and investigating the matter from all angles,” he said.

According to the SHO, by the time a police team reached on receiving the information, members of the Karni Sena were already present and had started protesting. “The police pacified the crowd and removed the slogans from the temple walls,” Kumar added.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Chauhan claimed that it was his associate, Sachin, who first informed the police about the incident. He alleged that locals suspected the involvement of some persons — all of whom have been named in the FIR — in carrying out the act.

Chauhan further alleged that instead of taking prompt action against the accused, the police focused on removing the slogans and allegedly detained and assaulted Sachin. He also accused the police of trying to suppress the incident.
However, SHO Kumar refuted the allegations, stating that Sachin was not detained or assaulted.

Circle Officer (CO) of Aligarh, Sanjeev Kumar, said the situation in the area is now under control.

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