A 55-year-old man from Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, identified as Ahmed (Abu Ahmad/Abdul Ahad) Sheikh, was detained at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex in Ayodhya on 10 January 2026 after he allegedly tried to offer namaz inside the high-security premises and reportedly raised slogans when stopped by security personnel, according to Uttar Pradesh police and eyewitness accounts.
Officials detained and questioned him amid heightened security and are investigating his intent, travel details and whether others were involved. Sheikh’s family later arrived in Ayodhya, produced medical records indicating he suffers from mental illness, and the police then handed him over to them after no suspicious items or malicious intent were found.
The incident has drawn attention due to the sensitive nature of the site, and authorities are reviewing security protocols even as the district administration and temple trust have not issued comments.
Incident, Security Response and Official Statements
On Saturday evening, Sheikh reportedly entered the Ram Mandir complex through Gate D-1, a public entry point for visitors, and proceeded to the temple premises, where he visited the shrine before moving to the Sita Rasoi area a location near the temple kitchen where large numbers of visitors circulate.
According to Uttar Pradesh police and additional media reports, he sat in that area and appeared to be preparing to offer namaz, which is not a recognised ritual within the temple’s traditional practices. Security personnel monitoring the site intervened promptly and took him into custody to prevent any potential disturbance.
Some eyewitnesses said they heard slogans being raised as the security staff restrained him, though officials have not confirmed the exact nature of those chants.
Sheikh was subsequently handed over to the local police and intelligence agencies, who began questioning him to determine his purpose in Ayodhya, his travel history and whether anyone else had coordinated with him.
During the initial checks, authorities reportedly recovered personal items, including dry fruits among his belongings, and Sheikh told investigators that he was travelling to Ajmer, another religious destination. Police sources emphasised that this investigation formed part of standard procedures at a sensitive site rather than evidence of impending disruptive intent.
Law enforcement leadership in Uttar Pradesh has since maintained that there was no security lapse in terms of breach of restricted zones or procedural failures.
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna told reporters that security personnel acted with speed and protocols were followed effectively to ensure there was no escalation. This official reassurance underscores the seriousness with which authorities treat any activity perceived to challenge public order or religious harmony at a landmark of national attention.
Family Accounts and Broader Context
Sheikh’s family travelled from their home in Shopian after being notified of his detention. His son told reporters that the family had been unaware of his visit to Ayodhya and that Sheikh had a history of mental health issues, which they supported with medical records from the psychiatry department of Srinagar Medical College.
“He is totally unsound,” the son said in remarks shared by local media, adding that his father often left home without notice and regularly visited mosques. Neighbours in Shopian corroborated that Sheikh has been undergoing treatment and taking medication, and suggested that his actions in Ayodhya were consistent with his documented health condition rather than a calculated attempt to provoke.
Following the submission of these medical documents to police on 11 January, the authorities released Sheikh to his family members. As part of the continued inquiry, some other individuals reportedly present in Ayodhya and identified as Kashmiri youths selling shawls in the area were also questioned, though no objectionable items were found and they were later released after verification of their addresses.
Senior officers indicated that while security agencies remain vigilant, no further action is being taken in relation to those individuals or the broader situation.
The Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya remains among the most highly secured religious complexes in the country, with dedicated forces and intelligence monitoring due to its national prominence and the potential for communal sensitivities to be stirred by isolated incidents.
Regular footfall of devotees, ongoing public interest and the temple’s symbolic significance amplify the scrutiny around all security events in and around the compound.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This episode highlights the complex interplay between security imperatives, individual rights, mental health awareness and social harmony in a diverse society. Religious sites like the Ram Mandir are central to many citizens’ spiritual lives and are safeguarded accordingly, but it is equally important that responses to individuals especially those with mental health conditions are handled with empathy and care.
The swift action by security personnel helped prevent any potential disruption, and the subsequent engagement with the detained man’s family and mental health context reflects a balanced approach that values public safety and human dignity in equal measure.
