An Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) leader was arrested on Tuesday while allegedly going to recite Hanuman Chalisa at the Shahi Eidgah Masjid inside the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Eidgah complex in Mathura.

Officials said that seven-eight other leaders of the organisation were also confined to their houses under different police stations. The ABHM had given a call for Hanuman Chalisa recital inside the Shahi Eidgah Masjid to mark the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition. Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Martandey Singh said the police arrested ABHM’s Agra region incharge Saurabh Sharma when he was attempting to go towards the mosque on the complex. He said Mahasabha president Rajshri Chaudhary and treasurer Dinesh Sharma were not among those confined in their homes and that there was no information. The Babri mosque in Ayodhya was demolished by Kar Sevaks on December 6, 1992. 

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said the law and order situation would not be allowed to be disturbed. A strict watch was also being kept on social media, he said.  The orders of the Supreme Court would be followed and the implementation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC would be ensured in letter and spirit, he said.

The organisation had given a similar call last year but their plan was scuttled by the district administration. “No new tradition or ritual will be allowed to be performed,” Pandey said.

Earlier, ABHM had sought permission to perform ‘Jalabhishek’ of Laddu Gopal and recital of Hanuman Chalisa at the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Eidgah complex in Mathura on Tuesday even as the district administration has banned gatherings and demonstrations there.

Nearly 1,500 police, armed constabulary, and paramilitary force personnel were being deployed and traffic restrictions enforced near Shri Krishna Janmasthan temple and Shahi Eidgah Masjid in the temple town, officials had said on Monday.