5 youths detained at Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanwapi Complex

Varanasi, July 11 (UNI) Five youths moving suspiciously inside the highly sensitive Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanwapi Complex here were tonight detained by alert security personnel.

Rashid Ahmad, Waseem Ahmad, Dilshad (all residents of Maqbool Alam Road, Varanasi), Arif Hussain and Sunder Baslat (both from Darjeeling, West Bengal) were detained just before entering the world famous Kashi Vishwanath temple located in the complex, highly placed police sources said.

Out of the five detained, Arif and Sunder had arrived by train at the Mugalsarai junction adjoining Varanasi early today.

The two Darjeeling-based youths were staying at the residence of Dilshad here before leaving for the Vishwanath temple this evening.

The youths led by Sunder Baslat entered the complex through the Dhundiraj Ganesh entry point after purchasing garlands, flowers and 'prasad' worth Rs 200. When they were about to enter the temple, security personnel in the three layered security ring of the complex stopped them and took them to the Gyanwapi complex control room.

Police officials present at the complex refused to divulge much on the matter, but said the detainees were being grilled by the cops. Railway tickets and some papers were found with them.

Police are not ruling out the possibility of the youths being used for a reccee exercise by militant groups as the Gyanwapi Complex has long been on the radar of terror outfits.

UNI