World · India Bureau
Elderly temple priest shot dead in Uttar Pradesh
An 81-year-old priest was shot and killed at a Shiva temple in Muzzafarnagar, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday evening. Two armed assailants on a motorcycle allegedly lured the victim outside the temple premises before opening fire and fleeing the scene.
LSN India ·
Swami Devanand Bharati, an octogenarian priest at the Shiva temple located within an ITI college compound in the Bhaurakalan police station area of Muzzafarnagar, was fatally shot on Wednesday evening. According to initial reports, two unidentified men arrived on a motorcycle and called out to the priest, drawing him outside the temple grounds. The assailants then opened fire before escaping on their vehicle.
The incident occurred in the busy Muzzafarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh. Emergency services were alerted following the shooting, and the priest was declared dead at the scene. The exact motive for the killing remains unclear at this stage.
Local police have launched an investigation into the incident and are working to identify the suspects. Authorities have registered a case and are examining CCTV footage and witness statements to piece together details of the attack. The investigation is ongoing as of Wednesday night.