Priests’ murder in UP: 2 cops suspended

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, August 16

Two policemen posted at Bidhoona police station in Auraiya district have been suspended for dereliction of duty following the brutal attack inside a temple leaving two priests dead and another critically injured and the violence that ensued.

An uneasy calm prevails in Auraiya with heavy police presence. Additional police force has been rushed to the district to keep the law and order situation under control.

As news of the double murder spread, villagers had blocked the Bidhoona-Etawah highway demanding to call Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. When the police tried to lift the blockage, the villagers indulged in brick-batting and arson injuring two policemen.

Finally the police had to fire in the air to disperse the crowds and bring the situation under control.

In an alarming development on the intervening night of August 14-15, priests Lajja Ram (65) and Halke Ram (53) were brutally murdered with a sharp weapon inside the Bhayanaknath temple in Kudarkot area of the district.

Another 56-year-old priest Ramsharan had been seriously injured. He is battling for his life at the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Science hospital at Safai in Etawah.

According to the CO Bidhoona, Bhaskar Verma, the priests had been tied to a charpoy and found in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds on their necks.

CO Verma said Station Officer in-charge of Bidhoona police station Akhilesh Mishra and Constable Mohd Islam have been suspended for what he described as “overall failure leading to the death of priests and the tension after that”.

He said that half a dozen teams have been formed to investigate the case. While no arrests have been made, the Auraiya police have detained several persons for interrogation.  

The priests were resisting cow slaughter in the area. The police are exploring that angle also.

Meanwhile, while condemning the incident CM Yogi has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for kin of two murdered priests and Rs 1 lakh for the injured priest.

He has also instructed DGP O P Singh and Principal Secretary Home Arvind Kumar to arrest the culprits within 48 hours.