- A man was arrested in Uttar Pradesh for offering namaaz in a temple where he worked
- The incident came to light after a three-month-old video of the prayer went viral
- Ali Mohammad has apologised and sought forgiveness
A man has been arrested for offering namaaz in a temple, where he had been working for close to 35 years, in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun, said the police.
The matter came to light after a three-month-old video of the man praying in the temple located in Papad village in Badaun's Dataganj went viral.
Ali Mohammad, who was working as a cleaner in the Brahmadeva temple, has apologised for his act.
"Safai karke, gobar karke, hum wahan pe padhne large, sahab. Humse galti hui hum, maafi chahte hain (After cleaning, I offered namaz. I made a mistake. I apologise, sir)," he told the cops.
"Issey pehle kabhi padhi hai (Have you done this earlier as well)?" the cop asked him during interrogation.
"Na, na (No, no)," he said, adding he was told by someone that since you work here, you might pray here.
The cops confirmed that the man was arrested for offering namaaz.
"A person was offering namaaz at a temple whose video went viral. A case has been filed against him and he has been arrested," said police officer KK Tiwari.
The family has played down the incident, saying it is nothing.
"Us mamle main kuch nahi hai. Galat afwah faila di hai. Puri jindagi ho gai mandir pe rehte hue (There is nothing in that matter. False rumours have been spread. He has spent his entire life living in the temple)," said Sayema, daughter-in-law of the man arrested.
The temple priest, Parmatma Das, claims that the man is mentally challenged and said the matter came to light only after the video went viral.
"Ali Mohammad is mentally challenged. He has been serving in many religious places. He has been working in this temple for 35 years," said Parmatma Das, the temple priest.
(With inputs from Arvind Singh)
