Ghaziabad Issues Prohibitory Order After Protests Against Controversial Seer Yati Narsinghanand

Police enforced prohibitory orders under BNS Section 163, restricting gatherings of five or more people across Ghaziabad on Saturday.

The decision followed a large crowd assembling outside the Dasna Devi temple on Friday night to protest against head priest Yati Narsinghanand, after videos of his controversial and inflammatory remarks at Hindi Bhawan in Lohia Nagar on 29 September surfaced online.

Photo Credit: PTI

Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Mishra stated that security had been tightened around the temple. Six companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and police personnel were deployed to prevent any escalation of tensions. Senior officers, including Additional Commissioner of Police Dinesh P, visited the area to oversee security arrangements.

Around 300 quick response teams were also deployed across the district, and police conducted flag marches while activating the local intelligence unit.

On Friday, an FIR was registered against Narsinghanand at Sihani Gate police station under BNS Section 302 for "uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person."

Tensions heightened on Saturday as several protestors, including expelled BSP member Ravi Gautam and Loni MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar, gathered near Kaliabhatta and Dasna Devi temple, demanding stricter action against the seer.

An FIR was also filed against 150 individuals after a complaint by sub-inspector Bhanuprakash Singh of Dasna police outpost. This followed a disturbance outside the Dasna temple where protesters allegedly threw stones at police teams.

Additional incidents of unrest were reported from Wave City and Kotwali on Saturday, according to police.

Meanwhile, social media saw a surge of posts criticising Narsinghanand and the Ghaziabad police since Friday night. Narsinghanand, who has multiple cases against him, including one for allegedly making a hate speech at a conclave in Haridwar in December 2021, is currently out on bail.