A 75-year-old Pujari of a Hanuman Mandir was brutally killed in Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Mathura. The police recovered his body with his hands and feet tied and his head crushed using bricks. The identity of the murderers is not yet established. The incident took place on Monday (May 22).

According to reports, Baba Haridas was the Pujari in the Hanuman Mandir at Mathura’s Jaab village. He resided alone in a small cottage within the Mandir premises. The murder came to light on Tuesday (May 23) when a devotee visited Baba to give him food. The devotee found Baba lying in a pool of blood and immediately informed the police.

The police took the Pujari’s body into custody and sent it for post-mortem. They also started an investigation into the murder immediately. The police informed the media that when they received information about Pujari’s death, a police team was immediately dispatched to the crime site. The police found Pujari’s body with hands and feet tied. Also, the head had been crushed with a heavy object.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Trigun Bisen said that Mahant Haridas resided alone in Jaab village’s Hanuman Mandir premises. “On Tuesday morning, when a devotee arrived at the temple to bring him food, he discovered the lifeless body of the priest,” said the SP. He added that the crime scene had been secured, and evidence had been collected for investigation.

The Mandir, located on Nandgaon Raod, falls in the jurisdiction of Kosikalan Police Station. The police team that visited the Mandir upon receiving information of the murder included DSP Shailesh Kumar Pandey, Sub-Inspector, Kosikalan Station Incharge, and other officials. The team found the Pujari’s head and face crushed with a brick and Baba died due to excess blood loss. The police also said they have not yet been able to confirm whether any valuables and cash have been stolen. Further investigations are underway.