Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A 35-year-old man has been arrested for killing two elderly sadhus at a temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur and later setting their bodies on fire, police said. The accused, identified as Sumit Singh, was arrested by the Khudaganj police, who also recovered the iron rod used in the crime.
The incident took place at a temple in Sutha village under the Khudaganj police station area, where the two deceased sadhus, identified as Baba Gopal Das and Baba Bihari Das, were living and looking after the temple.
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According to police, the accused attacked the sadhus while they were sleeping and subsequently attempted to destroy evidence by burning their bodies using firewood and ghee kept at the temple.
TWO SADHUS KILLED AT TEMPLE
The incident came to light on Thursday morning when local residents reached the temple and found the bodies of the two sadhus partially burnt near the premises.
The discovery led to an immediate police investigation. Officers examined the temple premises and began looking for the person responsible for the killings.
During the investigation, police identified Sumit Singh as a suspect and subsequently arrested him.
ACCUSED DESCRIBES ATTACK
During questioning, Singh reportedly told police that he attacked the sleeping sadhus with an iron rod. After the killings, he placed their bodies at the temple and set them on fire using wood and ghee available there.
Police said the accused later hid the iron rod in bushes near the temple after the incident. Investigators recovered the weapon based on information provided by him.
According to the police, Singh told investigators that he wanted to stay at the temple and sought to establish control over its premises. Police are examining this claim as part of the investigation into the motive behind the killings.
POLICE SAY EVIDENCE WAS DESTROYED
Police said the accused attempted to destroy evidence by setting the bodies on fire after the killings. The partially burnt remains were recovered from the temple premises after local residents alerted the authorities.
Investigators are examining the sequence of events and other circumstances surrounding the deaths. Police are also questioning the accused to establish whether he acted alone and to verify his account of the incident.
Shahjahanpur Rural Superintendent of Police Diksha Bhavre said the police had solved the case and arrested the 35-year-old accused.
She said the iron rod used in the crime had been recovered based on the accused’s information and that further legal proceedings were being initiated. The accused was subsequently sent to judicial custody.
The police investigation is continuing, with officers examining evidence collected from the temple and other details related to the killings.
– Ends
With inputs from Vinay Pandey
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
