Lagatar24 Desk
Varanasi, June 8: The judge who ordered a video survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, said he had received a threat letter from an organisation named Islamic Aagaz Movement.
The letter refers to a video survey ordered on April 26 by Varanasi civil judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, based on which Hindu organisations claimed the mosque has a Shivling. The structure was part of a fountain in the wazookhana used by worshipers to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz, according to mosque committee members.
In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the Director General of Police (DGP), and the Varanasi Police Commissionerate, Judge Diwakar demanded that appropriate action be taken. Varanasi police chief A Satish Ganesh confirmed that the judge received a letter in Hindi.
“The letter is written by Kashif Ahmed Siddiqui on behalf of the Islamic Aagaz Movement via registered post. Deputy Commissioner of Police Varuna is probing the matter,” said Varanasi police chief.
According to the officer, nine police officers have already been deployed for the judge’s security, and 10 more have been assigned to protect the district judge, who is currently hearing the case. On May 20, a day after the video survey report was given to Judge Diwakar, the Supreme Court shifted the case from the civil judge (senior division) to the district judge after some Muslim organisations requested its participation.
According to authorities, the letter was sent on June 4 and was written on a letterhead with a Delhi address.
