An alleged attempt to burn alive Hanuman Garhi’s Govindgarh Ashram seer Mahant Mahesh Das early on Friday has prompted a police investigation, after the cleric reported that unidentified individuals tried to set his room ablaze while he was asleep.
Police said the incident occurred at around 2.45am when the assailants reportedly cut the mesh of a window at the ashram and hurled inflammable material into the room. The seer told officers that he woke up to the smell of smoke and acted quickly to extinguish the flames before they spread. Initial inquiries indicate that no major injuries were sustained, although authorities confirmed minor damage inside the room.
Officers from Ayodhya district said a forensic team had been deployed to collect traces of accelerant and examine the cut window screen for tool marks. A senior official stated that the first priority was to verify the sequence of events described by the seer and identify potential suspects through surveillance footage from nearby roads and entry points leading to the ashram. Police also noted that the compound, which houses one of the prominent establishments linked to Hanuman Garhi, has a pattern of foot traffic that can be tracked to narrow down the timeline.
Mahant Mahesh Das, who has been associated with Govindgarh Ashram for several years, told investigators that he had no immediate personal enmities but had been vocal on certain religious matters over the past months. His comments have occasionally drawn criticism from rival factions within the broader religious sphere in Ayodhya. Police said they were exploring whether any ideological disagreement or local dispute could be linked to the alleged attack, while cautioning that no clear motive had emerged yet.
Officers recorded statements from other residents and staff members within the ashram to determine whether anyone noticed suspicious activity before dawn. Early accounts suggest that most occupants were asleep at the time. Investigators said the attackers appeared to have targeted the room specifically, noting that the location of the cut mesh indicated prior familiarity with the layout. They are now checking whether any outsiders had visited the premises in the days leading up to the incident.
The allegation has drawn attention because of the ashram’s standing within Ayodhya’s religious landscape. Hanuman Garhi, located near the Ram temple complex, attracts thousands of devotees and is overseen by various mahants responsible for rituals and administrative functions. Any threat to a seer from such an institution carries wider implications for security arrangements in a city that has undergone extensive development and intensified visitor movement over the past year.
Authorities said additional police personnel were deployed around the ashram after the incident to reassure residents and prevent unauthorised access. The district administration is reviewing whether security protocols for religious establishments require adjustments, given the growing footfall in Ayodhya. Senior officials said the inquiry would examine whether the attack was an isolated act or part of a more targeted effort to intimidate the seer.
The investigation is also focusing on the accelerant allegedly used in the attempted arson. Forensic specialists are analysing residue found on the floor and window frame to determine its composition, which could help trace its purchase. Police said they were checking local vendors for any unusual transactions involving inflammable chemicals in the days before the incident.
Mahant Mahesh Das has been cooperating with investigators and has provided details of movements within the ashram as well as information about individuals who had contacted him for religious matters. Police said they were verifying whether any of those interactions could be relevant to the case. Officers emphasised that they were keeping several possibilities open, including personal disputes, attempts to settle scores stemming from organisational disagreements, or mischief by individuals seeking to create unrest.
Security analysts familiar with Ayodhya’s religious institutions said tensions do surface periodically, particularly when clerics take public positions on matters that attract national attention. They noted that while disagreements among religious figures are not uncommon, an alleged attempt on the life of a seer is rare and often indicative of deeper localised grievances. Ayodhya police said they were aware of these dynamics and were consulting with senior religious representatives to ensure that the matter does not spark unnecessary anxiety among followers.
The district administration said the seer’s statement would be supported by physical evidence wherever possible. Officials added that findings from CCTV reviews and forensic reports were expected to guide the next phase of the investigation, which will include mapping potential entry and exit routes used by the attackers. Police said they were confident of making progress once technical analyses were completed.
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