LUCKNOW: A bomb threat targeting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya sparked panic on Saturday night, prompting swift action by police and security agencies and leading to heightened security across the temple town ahead of Republic Day. The caller who issued the threat was detained, and authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the incident.According to the police, the threat was received at around 10:30 pm on Saturday through a call made to Dial 112 in which the caller claimed that a bomb blast would take place at the Ram temple.Security arrangements in Ramnagari were intensified soon after the alert. Police increased patrolling in and around the Ram Temple complex and entry and exit points were closely monitored. Alert checks were also carried out to rule out any potential threat. Bomb disposal squads and specialised teams were kept on standby as a precautionary measure.Police confirmed that the caller, a resident of Gonda district, was detained. SSP/DIG, Ayodhya, Gaurav Grover told TOI that a preliminary inquiry suggested that the man was mentally unstable, though officials said a comprehensive assessment was being conducted before drawing any conclusions. “The youth Ram Karan was in a drunken state and was undergoing mental treatment for three years,” said the officer.Senior police officers said that Ayodhya police, along with intelligence agencies were jointly interrogating the detained individual to ascertain the motive behind the call and to verify whether the threat had any real basis or links to larger security concerns. “The matter is being thoroughly investigated. There is no confirmation of any explosive or suspicious material on the temple premises,” a police official said.The police appealed to the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading rumours, while assuring that the security of the Ram Temple and Ayodhya city remained top priority. Further action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation, police said.Two weeks earlier, forces in the Ram Janmabhoomi complex went into a tizzy after a 55-year-old man from Kashmir entered the temple campus and allegedly attempted to offer namaz near a restricted area. Security personnel had detained Abu Ahmad Sheikh (55) after he allegedly attempted to offer namaz near the southern circumambulatory corridor of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex, close to the Sita Rasoi. Later, he was let off.
