Two men who went to confront a temple priest in Uttar Pradesh over his alleged relationship with one of their sisters were allegedly murdered and buried inside the temple premises, police said. Their bodies were recovered about two weeks after they disappeared, turning a missing-person case into a suspected double murder.
The victims, identified as Ankur Kumar and Israr Ahmed, both in their early 30s, had reportedly been missing since July 25. Their bodies were eventually found in a pit at a Ganesh temple in Lahchauda village, Baghpat district, according to police.
Disappearance followed a confrontation
Investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding the men’s visit to the temple on July 25. According to reports, the two had gone there to confront the chief priest over
an alleged relationship involving one of their sisters.
What happened inside the temple remains the subject of the police investigation. The authorities have not publicly established a complete sequence of events or a final motive, and allegations against the priest should therefore be treated as part of the ongoing probe.
The priest, meanwhile, was reported to be absconding, adding to the urgency of the investigation.
Bodies discovered after two weeks
The case took a grim turn when police searching for the missing men found their bodies concealed in a pit within the temple compound.
Reports said the area had been covered over, while lamps were subsequently lit above the spot. The discovery has raised questions about how the bodies remained undetected for so long in a place visited by devotees.
The recovery of the remains is expected to provide investigators with crucial forensic evidence. Post-mortem examinations will be important in determining how the men died, while police are also expected to examine physical evidence and question people connected to the temple and the victims.
Investigation now focuses on the priest
The disappearance, the reported confrontation, and the discovery of the bodies have placed the temple’s chief priest at the centre of the investigation. Police are continuing efforts to trace him and establish exactly what happened after the two men arrived at the temple.
The case has shocked residents because the alleged killings took place inside religious premises, and the bodies were reportedly concealed there for days.
For now, investigators face a central question: what happened between the confrontation on July 25 and the discovery of the two bodies roughly a fortnight later? The answer will depend on forensic findings, witness accounts, and the police investigation now underway.
