2 ascetics killed, bodies set on fire inside temple in UP's Shahjahanpur; local detained | India News

Two ascetics were allegedly murdered on Thursday and their bodies set on fire inside a temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district where they resided, police said, adding that a local man has been detained for questioning following allegations that he wanted them to leave to establish control over the shrine.According to police, the incident took place at a Shiva temple in Sutha village, around 70 km from the district headquarters. Villagers noticed smoke rising from the temple at around 7 am on Thursday. The deceased were identified as Gopal Das, 70, and Bihari Das, 60, police said.Also Read I Mafia held sway, parallel systems operated in several Uttar Pradesh areas before 2017: YogiCops question suspectPradeep Singh, the nephew of Bihari Das, alleged that a local man, Sumeet, was responsible for the murders. He claimed that Sumeet had attacked the two ascetics several times in the past.Superintendent of police (rural) Diksha Bhavre said police received information through the police response vehicle about two ascetics being burnt at the temple. “When Khudaganj police reached the spot, the bodies were found severely burnt. The suspect, Sumeet Singh, has been detained and is being questioned,” she said.The temple caretaker, Shiv Kumar Singh, submitted a complaint in connection with the incident. According to police, Sumeet, a resident of the same village, had returned from jail in August and started spending time with the priests at the temple.SSP Saurabh Dixit said: “Villagers initially confirmed that Sumeet had, on one occasion, told the two ascetics to leave the place as he is going to stay there. He said that he will have exclusive control over this place”.Also Read I Samajwadi Party fields Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as its second Rajya Sabha nominee alongside Ram Gopal Yadav in Uttar PradeshPrima facie, the police suspect that the incident occurred late Wednesday over a dispute.During preliminary questioning, Singh allegedly admitted to attacking the priests and setting their bodies on fire, police said, adding that the bodies have been sent for an autopsy.