Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi, accused of attacking policemen outside Gorakhnath temple, being produced by police in court, Gorakhpur, Monday, 4 April 2022.
Gorakhpur temple attack accused Ahmed Murtaza Abbasi was a graduate of IIT-Bombay. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh revealed during interrogation that he aspired to be a part of ISIS despite his education.
ATS is shrouded in mystery with Mortaza – is he a shrewd fanatic on a bigger mission or is he just as mentally ill as his family claims?
Brief description of the eventAbbasi had attacked two police constables with sharp weapons and tried to enter the premises before being overpowered. The temple is under high security as it is frequently visited by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is the chief seer.
Mortaza has not lied about any of the questions posed to him by the ATS. When asked why he had not married yet, he said, “What is the need of a wife? Once I reach the house of Allah (referring to heaven), it will not be needed.” He said he wanted to achieve “martyrdom”, and that is why he attacked policemen outside the Gorakhnath temple with sharp weapons.
ATS officials said that the chemical engineer of IIT Bombay had quit his job in a multinational company. Evidence collected in his apartment shows that he often consumed radical material, and had high aspirations to join ISIS. His family claims that he is mentally ill.
Mortaza’s bank statement revealed that he had also given funds to several organizations abroad. About one lakh rupees were sent through his credit card. Over the past few months, he had sent huge amounts of money several times to someone named Shamiullah.
“He went to Saudi Arabia in 2016 and has since followed the path of fundamentalism. He made several attempts to go to Syria through local channels. [in 2017-18] to join IS, but failed,” ATS officials said.
According to the police, the UP ATS team visited the building (Millennium Tower) at Sanpada node near Vashi. The team found that the flat (mentioned in Abbasi’s Aadhaar card) was sold in 2013. Abbasi’s father Munir Abbasi has also bought another flat at Taj Heights Apartments in Sector 50 of Seawoods Drive in Navi Mumbai.
ATS team visited the flat with the help of NRI police station officials. It was learned that the Abbasi family had shifted to Gorakhpur in October 2020 and the flat was rented out to a Muslim Khan during the lockdown.
Munir Abbasi had recently visited his flat in Seawoods and it was vacated by the tenant. Abbasi Sr. then returned to Gorakhpur.
As complicated as the investigation is, it turns out that Murtaza is an introvert. Police officials are convinced that the Gorakhpur incident could be part of a larger pattern.