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Body of priest found hanging from pole near temple in UP

Land dispute suspected; according to reports, the priest had written to the district administration about threat to his life

Body of priest found hanging from pole near temple in UP

(Photo: Getty Images)

The body of a 64-year-old priest was found hanging from a pole near the temple where he stayed, police said Thursday. Swami Premdas, priest of Ram Janki temple in Baba ka Purva, was allegedly killed by four people on Tuesday night, according to a complaint lodged in this connection.

Swami Satyanarain Das, who was the priest of the temple before Swami Premdas, had also been murdered.

Based on the complaint lodged by Mahant Mauni Baba, an FIR was registered against the four named by him, said the police. The accused include Bajinath Maurya, who was allegedly involved in a dispute over possession of a land belonging to the temple.

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The complainant said Maurya was associated with the land mafia, and was involved in the murder of Swami Satyanarain Das too.

Mauni Baba alleged that Maurya had encroached upon a piece of temple land and construction was going on there.

Quoting SP Sunil Singh, a PTI report said stern action would be taken against all the accused.

According to media reports, the local residents of Itaura Buzurg village area, where the temple is situated, claimed the priest had written to the district administration about threat to his life.

A News18 report said the Panchsheel University was being illegally run on the temple land. This manager of the university is BN Maurya, who is related to BJP leader Swami Prasad Maurya. A local court had recently ordered evacuation of the temple premises.

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