‘Wanted to take over temple’: 2 priests killed, bodies set ablaze in UP village
Two elderly priests were murdered and their bodies set on fire in a village in Shahjahanpur, India. The suspect, a local man, allegedly committed the crime in an attempt to seize control of the temple property.
Why it matters
This incident highlights ongoing issues regarding land disputes and violence surrounding religious institutions in rural India.
SHAHJAHANPUR: Two elderly priests residing at a temple in Shahjahanpur district were killed on Thursday and their bodies allegedly set ablaze by a man who wanted to take control of the shrine, police said.According to news agency PTI, the accused, identified as Sumit Singh, has been taken into custody and is being questioned, police said.Singh allegedly attacked both priests with a heavy object before pouring an inflammable substance over their bodies and setting them on fire in Sutha village, superintendent of police Saurabh Dixit said.The two priests, identified as Bihari Das, 60, and Gopal Das, 70, had been living at the temple for a long time and looking after it.A plot of land adjoining the temple is reportedly registered in Gopal Das’s name.According to police, Singh, a…
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