3 min readLucknowUpdated: Aug 16, 2026 11:20 AM IST
Police said the temple premises were searched several times, but to no avail. Later, informers were engaged to try getting information from those at the temple. (File photo)
On July 25, Ankit (27) and his friend Israr (36) went to a temple in their village in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat to confront the priest. Ankit believed the priest was in a relationship with his younger sister and had allegedly warned him several times to end it.
Neither man returned home.
For four days, their families tried to find out where they had gone. They repeatedly asked the priest if he knew anything about Ankit and Israr, but he denied having any information about them, police said.
They lodged a missing person’s complaint on July 29
On Thursday, police recovered their decomposing bodies from the temple premises — they were buried several feet beneath the interlocking tiles.
The priest, who police said is the main accused, and his 14-year-old son are on the run, said Rakesh Kumar Pundir, Station House Officer (SHO) of Chandi Nagar police station. Police have arrested two of his disciples in connection with the case, who allegedly revealed details of the killings during questioning.
Trail led to the temple
Ankit was physically challenged. According to the SHO, he had been unable to move his lower body since birth. Israr, his close friend, used to take wherever he wanted to go on his motorcycle.
After the two disappeared, Pundir said police checked CCTV footage in the area several times and scanned call detail records of Ankit and Israr. However, footage did not show either of them leaving the village, while their last mobile phone locations remained at the temple.
Police searched the premises several times but found no trace of them.
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Later, informers were engaged to try getting information from those at the temple.
The SHO said the effort bore fruit, as police learnt that the priest knew about the missing men. A police team reached the temple on Wednesday night, but the priest and his 14-year-old son escaped. Two of his disciples were found there and questioned at length.
Police said they alleged that the priest killed the two men and buried them. They took the police to the spot, where a team dug up the area and found the bodies several feet underground.
The night of the killings
Police said the two disciples admitted to how the alleged killing unfolded.
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They claimed Ankit was very angry with the priest, warning him to mend his ways or face the music. Police said the accused took Ankit and Israr inside the temple room on the pretext of pacifying them, but allegedly offered them tea laced with sedative tablets.
The SHO said Ankit and Israr fell asleep after about an hour, following which the priest allegedly injected them with some medicine. He then dug up the ground beneath the tiles with the help of his son and the disciples. The bodies were buried there and the tiles were fixed again.
The priest used to light lamps at the spot to avoid suspicion, the SHO added.
Pundir said police were waiting for the autopsy reports to ascertain the exact cause of death of the victims.
Bhupendra Pandey is the Resident Editor of the Lucknow edition of The Indian Express. With decades of experience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s journalistic landscape, he oversees the bureau’s coverage of India’s most politically significant state. His expertise lies in navigating the complex intersections of state governance, legislative policy, and grassroots social movements. From tracking high-stakes assembly elections to analyzing administrative shifts in the Hindi heartland, Bhupendra’s reportage provides a definitive lens on the region's evolution.
Authoritativeness He leads a team of seasoned reporters and investigators, ensuring that The Indian Express’ signature "Journalism of Courage" is reflected in every regional story. His leadership is central to the Lucknow bureau’s reputation for breaking stories that hold the powerful to account, making him a trusted figure for policy analysts, political scholars, and the general public seeking to understand the nuances of UP’s complex landscape.
Trustworthiness & Accountability Under his stewardship, the Lucknow edition adheres to the strictest standards of factual verification and non-partisan reporting. He serves as a bridge between the local populace and the national discourse, ensuring that regional issues are elevated with accuracy and context. By prioritizing primary-source reporting and on-the-ground verification, he upholds the trust that readers have placed in the Express brand for nearly a century. ... Read More
