‘Wanted to take over temple’: 2 priests killed, bodies set ablaze in UP village

The 2 priests, identified as Bihari Das, 60, and Gopal Das, 70, had been living at the temple for a long time and looking after it.

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 resident of the same village, had returned from jail in August and started spending time with the priests at the temple. He allegedly wanted to stay there and take over its management.During preliminary questioning, Singh allegedly admitted to attacking the priests and later setting their bodies on fire, police said.A murder case has been registered against the accused, while the bodies have been sent for postmortem examination.(With agency inputs)