NEW DELHI: Agra Police on Saturday arrested two youths for pouring water at the Taj Mahal and inside its premises and claiming it to be a Hindu temple.
Suraj Kumar Rai, deputy commissioner of police (Agra City), told news agency PTI that the two youths were arrested following a written complaint by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel posted inside the Taj Mahal.
“The youths entered the premises as tourists. The complaint said that the youths were seen pouring water inside the Taj Mahal premises,” he said.
They have been arrested after the incident and a case has been filed at the Tajganj Police Station, he added.
Later, a local right-wing Hindu outfit claimed that the two were its members and had offered holy “Gangajal” as they believe the monument is a Hindu temple.
Hindu organisation Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) has claimed that arrested men are its members and the two offered water of the holy Ganges on the premises as it is a Hindu temple, “Tejo Mahalay”.
The case has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 223 (disobedience to order promulgated by public servant), 298 (injuring or defiling place of worship), and 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), the police said, adding the matter is being investigated in detail.
The incident comes days after a Kanwariya attempted to offer “Gangajal” at the Taj Mahal claiming that “Lord Shiv” came in her dreams and asked her to do so.
The woman was, however, stopped by the monument authorities.
“I came to Tejo Mahalaya to offer the ‘Gangajal’. Lord Shiv called me in my dreams and I brought kanwar to offer at Tejo Mahalaya. But, they (policemen) have stopped me from going ahead,” Meena Rathore, who is a member of a right-wing group, said.
Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Taj Suraksha, Syed Areeb Ahmad, informed PTI that she was stopped at the west gate barrier and was not allowed to enter the Taj Mahal.
Suraj Kumar Rai, deputy commissioner of police (Agra City), told news agency PTI that the two youths were arrested following a written complaint by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel posted inside the Taj Mahal.
“The youths entered the premises as tourists. The complaint said that the youths were seen pouring water inside the Taj Mahal premises,” he said.
They have been arrested after the incident and a case has been filed at the Tajganj Police Station, he added.
Later, a local right-wing Hindu outfit claimed that the two were its members and had offered holy “Gangajal” as they believe the monument is a Hindu temple.
Hindu organisation Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) has claimed that arrested men are its members and the two offered water of the holy Ganges on the premises as it is a Hindu temple, “Tejo Mahalay”.
The case has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 223 (disobedience to order promulgated by public servant), 298 (injuring or defiling place of worship), and 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), the police said, adding the matter is being investigated in detail.
The incident comes days after a Kanwariya attempted to offer “Gangajal” at the Taj Mahal claiming that “Lord Shiv” came in her dreams and asked her to do so.
The woman was, however, stopped by the monument authorities.
“I came to Tejo Mahalaya to offer the ‘Gangajal’. Lord Shiv called me in my dreams and I brought kanwar to offer at Tejo Mahalaya. But, they (policemen) have stopped me from going ahead,” Meena Rathore, who is a member of a right-wing group, said.
Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Taj Suraksha, Syed Areeb Ahmad, informed PTI that she was stopped at the west gate barrier and was not allowed to enter the Taj Mahal.