In a significant development, police in Ayodhya district have arrested a Muslim youth named Shaan-e-Alam for disseminating misleading information about the Ram Mandir and subsequently threatening the complainant. The arrest was made on Wednesday, July 31, following a thorough investigation by the police in the matter.
Allegations and Investigation
The case has been reported in the Ramjanmabhoomi police station area of Ayodhya district. On June 9, 2024, a man identified as Karan Shilpkar lodged a formal complaint with the police. According to Karan, he was browsing his Facebook profile on that day when he encountered a post by Shaan-e-Alam. The post, dated June 6, 2024, contained a video falsely claiming that people from the Scheduled Caste (SC) were being barred from entering the Ram Mandir.
The video not only propagated false information but also mentioned the names of several castes within the SC category with derogatory words such as dhobi, bhangi, chamar among others. The complainant, who is actively involved in serving the sant and gurus in Ayodhya, found this misinformation deeply distressing.
He asserted that the misleading post, which falsely claimed that Dalit community members were being barred from entering the temple, was spreading falsehoods and creating divisions within the community. He emphasised the need for severe punishment for the accused to address and counteract this harmful propaganda.
Prompted by these concerns, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR number: 96/2024) against Shaan-e-Alam on June 9 under sections 505 (intentional insults ) and 505(2) (publishing of a statement or report containing rumour) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Escalation and Threats
Upon learning about the FIR, Shaan-e-Alam reportedly became enraged. It is alleged that on Tuesday, July 30, he, along with two associates, went to the Karan’s residence. During the confrontation, Shaan-e-Alam and his accomplice threatened him, saying, “You have become a leader and filed a case against my post. Withdraw your case, or you will lose your life.” In addition to the threats, he also verbally abused Karan.
Following the confrontation, Karan filed an additional complaint at the Ramjanmabhoomi Police Station on July 30. According to the FIR (number 117/2024), Karan reported that Shaan-e-Alam had said, “What grudge do you have against me, and who are you, a leader, to file a complaint against my post? Yesterday, the police visited my home. It would be better for you to withdraw your complaint, or else you might lose your life.”
Based on this FIR, Alam has been booked under sections 352 (assault or use of criminal force) and 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Arrest and Official Statements
With both FIRs in hand, the police initiated a search for Shaan-e-Alam, ultimately arresting him on July 31.
Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raj Kumar Nayyar provided an official statement on the matter, emphasising the gravity of Shaan-e-Alam’s actions. “Shaan-e-Alam’s misleading and baseless post not only hurt the religious sentiments of residents in Ayodhya and nearby areas but also posed a risk of inciting social discord,” said SSP Nayyar.
आज दि0 31.07.24 को सोशल मीडिया पर अयोध्या व श्रीराम जन्मभूमि मन्दिर अयोध्या के सम्बन्ध में धार्मिक/जातिगत, विद्वेषपूर्ण पोस्ट करने के सम्बन्ध मे थाना राम जन्मभूमि पर पं0 अभि0 के सम्बन्ध मे #ayodhyapolice द्वारा 01 नफर अभि0 को गिर0 कर मा0 न्यायालय भेजा गया। #SSP_अयोध्या की बाईट pic.twitter.com/ro4oIlZ4zb
— AYODHYA POLICE (@ayodhya_police) July 31, 2024
He further confirmed that a detailed investigation and additional legal proceedings are underway against the arrested accused.
Origins of the Caste Debate
The recent caste debate took centre stage in February 2024 when Rahul Gandhi, addressing a public gathering in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, as part of the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ criticised the BJP-led central government. Gandhi’s comments were directed at the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir. He argued that the ceremony, which was celebrated with much fanfare, deliberately excluded President Droupadi Murmu, who is from a tribal community.
Gandhi accused the BJP government of neglecting 73 per cent of the country’s Dalits, backward classes, and tribals, claiming that they were overlooked in favour of capitalists. He highlighted the absence of Dalit, tribal, and agricultural workers at the Ram Mandir event, contrasting it with the presence of prominent businessmen like Adani and Ambani, as well as celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.
In contrast, the history of the Ram Mandir movement includes significant involvement from Dalits. In 1989, Kameshwar Chaupal, a Dalit from Supaul in Bihar, laid the first foundation stone for the Mandir. Chaupal, who is now a member of the state BJP working committee and the Ram Janmbhoomi Teertha Kshetra, was chosen for this honour in recognition of his community’s role in the movement. Additionally, a Dalit couple, Vithal and his wife, who were kar sevaks during the demolition of the Babri structure in 1992, were among those who participated in the pran pratishtha rituals at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22.
