An Islamist named Ayub Ali has been taken into custody from the Maha Kumbh camp of Mahant Yati Narsinghanand, head pujari of the Dasna mandir in Ghaziabad and Mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhara. Ayub reportedly entered the Kumbh mela under the guise of a Hindu identity, using the name “Ayush.” Police are interrogating him to determine his motives for loitering near Narsinghanand’s camp.
The incident occurred on January 14, when Ayub’s behaviour near the camp raised suspicions among the sant of the Akhara. They confronted him, during which Ayub initially claimed his name was Ayush and stated he was there to meet Narsinghanand. However, upon further questioning, the sants informed the police. Following rigorous interrogation, Ayub admitted his real name and identity.
Ayub Ali disclosed that he hails from Aliganj in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district. He revealed that his father’s name is Saqir Ali, and he has two brothers and three sisters. Ayub claimed he had come alone to the Kumbh Mela and denied being sent by anyone. He also stated, “I didn’t know that coming here was not allowed.” He detailed his travel route, saying he travelled by train from Kanpur to Gorakhpur before arriving in Prayagraj.
Following Ayub’s detention, Mahant Yati Narsinghanand expressed concerns about a possible conspiracy to assassinate him. “Just a few months ago, a mob of 10,000 Muslims attacked the area outside my Dasna temple in Ghaziabad. I am under continuous surveillance. Zubair, who resides in Bengaluru, has also issued threats against me. He orchestrated the temple attack,” he said.
Narsinghanand, who has been provided with two security gunners by the Uttar Pradesh Police, emphasized the heightened threat to his life during the Maha Kumbh. “I could be assassinated at any time,” he warned. He also issued an appeal to the Hindu community, urging them to have 4-5 children to counter what he described as a demographic decline in the Hindu population compared to Muslims in India.
This is not the first instance of individuals posing as Hindus to enter areas associated with Narsinghanand. Previous incidents include:
October 3, 2024: Uttar Pradesh Police arrested three Muslims attempting to enter the Dasna temple using Hindu names. Identified as Rahul, Nanak, and Wajir Khan from Mathura district, they claimed to be part of a Ramlila team.
May 2023: A suspect named Mohsin was apprehended while attempting to enter the temple with two minor girls. Investigations revealed that one girl was Hindu and had her Aadhaar card used for entry, while the other was Muslim. Narsinghanand accused them of conducting reconnaissance.
October 2021: A Muslim child named Anas was caught attempting to enter the Dasna temple. Narsinghanand claimed the child was trained for reconnaissance and personally handed him over to the police.
June 2021: Two individuals allegedly planning to assassinate Narsinghanand were arrested near the temple.
Earlier in March 2021, a boy named Asif was caught entering the temple premises, leading to an altercation with the priests. The incident was followed by several videos online threatening Narsinghanand’s life.
The police are now probing Ayub’s activities and any potential connections to organised groups or individuals targeting Narsinghanand.
