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News Desk: Bajrang Dal members on Thursday barged into a temple in Aligarh and damaged a water cooler’s foundation plaque water bearing the name of a Muslim leader. Police arrested the main accused identified as Deepak Rajpur. He was later released on bail following protests by the outfit’s members.
The water cooler was donated to the Khereshwar Mahadev temple by a local Muslim politician Salman Shahdid, who is associated with Samajwadi Party. A plaque in his name was also installed at the temple.
The accused Deepak was held at Lodha police station where dozens of right-wing outfit’s staged a protest demanding the release of Rajput on Wednesday night.
On Thursday morning, Bajrang Dal men gathered at Ramleela ground threatening to court arrest in large numbers.
Lodha police station in-charge Gajraj Singh said the accused was arrested under section 151 of IPC and released on bail.
Meanwhile, local BJP MP Satish Gautam has supported the act of Bajrang Dal members. He said a Muslim leader’s name inside the temple is an “attempt to hurt sentiments of Hindu community”
Earlier, the temple management had filed a complaint saying ‘anti-social elements’ barged into the temple and destroyed the plaque.
The temple management official Satyapal Singh has also demanded a probe into the vandalism.
“There was no need of a foundation stone bearing name of Muslim leader inside the temple” the report further quoted Bajrang Dal convenor Gaurav Sharma. The water cooler was donated by Shahid on June 28 after consultation with temple authorities.
