NRI youth stopped at Kashi Vishwanath complex

Varanasi, July 14 (UNI) A Non-Resident Indian youth from the US was stopped at the entrance to highly sensitive Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanwapi complex here today and was allowed to go only after proper verification.

Shahid Mohd Khan (28), a youth originally hailing from Hyderabad, but now a resident of the US was stopped by security personnel, when he was about to enter the complex through the Saraswati Phatak entry point, sources in the security said.

After proper verification, the youth was set free as he had accidentally strayed to the entry point of the complex housing the world famous Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanwapi mosque, sources added.

''He has been allowed to go after proper verification, which suggested that the youth visiting the city as a tourist went to the entry point accidentally,'' Additional Police Superintendent (Gyanwapi Security) Vikramaditya Sachan said.

Earlier on Wednesday night, five youths, two of them from Darjeeling (West Bengal) were detained while roaming suspiciously near the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The detained youths -- Arif Hussain, Sunder Basnat, Wasim Ahmad, Rashid Ahmad and Dilshad -- were set free on Thursday evening after hours of interrogation and verification.

Senior Police Superintendent S B Shirodkar had yesterday told UNI that a system of double-check has been introduced for each and every person entering the complex.

''Besides being frisked through metal detectors, devouts will have to render proper verification of name and address to the security personnel posted at the three entry points open for general public,'' Mr Shirodkar said.

UNI