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Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on July 15, 2024
Three booked in murder case of Lakhimpur Kheri temple priest
One of the three had previously been arrested for assaulting the 68-year-old priest, who was found unconscious in the temple on Sunday and later died in hospital
A 68-year-old temple priest died in hospital after being found unconscious, leading to the police booking three persons for murder.(Representational Photo)
After a 68-year-old temple priest was found unconscious and subsequently died in hospital on Sunday, police booked three persons in a murder case, including a 50-year-old man who had been booked days ago for assaulting the priest.
While locals suspect that the victim, Mahesh Das, consumed a poisonous substance due to depression after the assault, doctors who conducted the postmortem could not ascertain the cause of his death. Station House Officer Indrajeet Singh said the viscera would be sent to a forensic laboratory for further examination.
The SHO added that a FIR has been lodged on murder charges against three persons, including Bhola Singh, whom Das had lodged a case against last week for alleged misbehaviour and assault. A medical examination had been conducted on Das, following which Bhola Singh, a farmer, was arrested on charges of breach of peace and produced before the local court. He was soon granted bail.
Das, a native of Pilibhit, had been staying at a temple in Lakhimpur Kheri for several years. According to police, locals claimed that since the alleged assault on July 9, he had become “depressed” and stayed inside the temple.
On July 13, a local resident found Mahesh Das lying unconscious inside the temple. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died during treatment on the early morning of July 14.
Angered by the death, local people had staged a protest, demanding the arrest of the persons who allegedly forced the victim to take the extreme step. Protesters placed the body on the road and refused to conduct the final rites until their demands were met. The protest had been lifted only after the police assured them that they would lodge a murder case and investigate the matter.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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