Indus Valley Times

Uttar Pradesh,Jan 30 : A special NIA court on Monday awarded death sentence to Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, arrested in connection with an attack on security personnel stationed at UP’s Gorakhnath temple in April last year.

Speaking to India Today, Prashan Kumar, ADG (Law and Order), said that the accused was handed the death penalty under Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code. The accused was also given life imprisonment under Section 307 for attacking a police personnel.

The accused had attacked Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel stationed at the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur. Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, a chemical engineer, was arrested after a brief chase.

The interrogation of Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi had revealed the accused’s connection to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS). According to UP Additional director general of police (Law and Order), Murtaza Abbasi had taken the oath of fighting for IS and was providing financial assistance to supporters of the militant organisation.

A resident of Gorakhpur’s Civil Lines area, Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, completed chemical engineering in 2015 from IIT-Mumbai. He then worked with two prominent companies.

Abbasi’s family members said he had a run-in with mental health issues in 2017 and was treated by a number of doctors. These issues also strained his relationship with his wife, resulting in their separation.

He was arrested in April 2022 following an attack on security personnel stationed at Gorakhnath temple in Uttar Pradesh.

-PTI