8 youth arrested under suspicious circumstances near Ram Janmabhoomi, questioned for 16 hours

Around eight men were arrested under suspicious circumstances near the Ram Janmabhoomi check-post in Ayodhya on Friday night.

8 youth arrested under suspicious circumstances near Ram Janmabhoomi, questioned for 16 hours

LUCKNOW: Around eight men were arrested under suspicious circumstances near the Ram Janmabhoomi check-post in Ayodhya on Friday night.

According to the police, the eight youths - residents of Khalilnagar Basni village in Nagaur district of Rajasthan - were travelling in a car when they were stopped around 2 am. They claimed to be on a pilgrimage since November 15 and were on their way to Kichaucha Sharif in UP's Ambedkar Nagar district.

The police questioned the youths for over 16 hours, who were later taken to magistrate where they were sent for judicial custody.

An Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team, led by Additional SP Rajesh Sahni, came from Lucknow to question the youths, read a statement released by the ATS.

According to the statement, Nagaur police said the eight youths have no criminal record but the matter was being investigated from all angles.

Ayodhya has been in the news after Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar expressed his desire to mediate between various stakeholders in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmaboomi dispute. 

The Supreme Court will begin its final hearing in the case on December 5.