Jagran Correspondent, Shahjahanpur: A shocking case has emerged from Uttar Pradesh, where two saints were murdered inside a Shiva temple in Shahjahanpur, after which their bodies were cremated on a wooden pyre on the temple premises.
The victims have been identified as Gopal Das and Baba Bihari Das. The incident came to light when villagers arrived at the temple in the morning and discovered that the body of one sadhu was still burning, while the other had been reduced to a skeleton. The two bodies were found lying about 10 meters apart in Sutha village, located within the Khudaganj police station limits.
Gopal Das, a resident of the Azizganj locality, had been residing at the Sutha village temple for several years. Baba Bihari Das, who typically stayed at another temple in the same village, had been living with Gopal Das for the past month.
According to reports from jagran.com, a local resident named Sumit Singh had been released from jail on bail a month prior. He reportedly wanted to take up residence at the temple, leading to multiple disputes between him and the saints. An altercation allegedly broke out between them on the night of the incident over the control and possession of the temple.
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Sumit has been on the run since the crime. Villagers described him as a repeat offender with a history of substance abuse, prompting most residents to keep their distance from him. Even when his family previously arranged for his bail, it faced strong opposition from the community.
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Superintendent of Police Saurabh Dixit stated, "Villagers have reported that Sumit demanded the two ascetics leave, telling them, 'I am going to live here, and I will be the sole authority.' This dispute is what triggered the incident."
Local police, senior officials, and a forensic team immediately rushed to the scene. An investigation is currently underway and teams have been deployed to arrest the accused.
( With inputs from Ambuj Kumar Mishra )