UP horror: 60-year-old priest stabbed to death at under-construction temple

UNNAO: An elderly priest was allegedly stabbed to death by unidentified assailants at an under-construction temple in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district on Tuesday, triggering tension in the area and a brief protest by local residents, police said.

The deceased, identified as Milan Das (60), was a resident of the Ghure Tola locality in Bangarmau, according to news agency PTI.

According to police, Das had been associated with the Bodheshwar temple on the western side of the town for several years, performing religious duties there.

Around six months ago, he began constructing a new temple about 200 metres from his residence and had been spending most of his time at the site.

Police said Das was at the temple premises on Tuesday afternoon when unidentified attackers allegedly assaulted him with a sharp-edged weapon, leaving him critically injured.

He was rushed to the Bangarmau Community Health Centre by local residents, where doctors declared him dead.

Following the incident, some locals staged a protest on the Hardoi-Unnao road, demanding swift action against the perpetrators.

Police and forensic teams reached the spot and collected evidence. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, while investigators are scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas for clues.

The victim's elder brother, Virendra, told police that the family was not aware of any dispute involving Das and said the motive behind the killing would become clear only after the investigation.

Circle Officer Santosh Singh said multiple teams have been formed to identify and arrest the accused. "All possible angles are being examined and efforts are on to trace the attackers," he said.

Police said the exact reason behind the murder remains unclear and is under investigation.