A Sinister Plot Unveiled Inside a Temple
A shocking double murder case from Uttar Pradesh has sent ripples across the region, revealing a dark tale of blackmail, illicit relationships, and cold-blooded murder. The sanctity of a religious site was shattered when the bodies of two missing friends were recovered from deep underground within a temple complex. As the investigation progressed, police unearthed a chilling truth: the mastermind behind the gruesome crime was none other than the head priest of the temple, who killed to hide his own dark secrets.
According to police findings, the priest, Naresh Nath, was involved in an illicit relationship. The situation took a dangerous turn when one of the victims, a young man named Ankit, somehow got hold of private photos and explicit videos of the priest and his partner. This discovery triggered an intense cycle of blackmail and extortion, ultimately culminating in a horrific double homicide.
The Disappearance That Started the Investigation
The sequence of events began when 27-year-old Ankit and his 34-year-old friend Israr left their homes on a motorcycle, informing their families that they were heading to Khekra. When they failed to return by evening, panic set in. After days of unsuccessful searches, Ankit's sister lodged a missing person report at the Chandinagar police station. Taking the case seriously, local law enforcement activated their surveillance network, which soon pointed towards the temple priest and his associates.
Acting on intelligence, police raided the temple premises and excavated a suspicious patch of ground inside the courtyard. To the horror of investigators, the decomposed bodies of both Ankit and Israr were recovered from the pit. The perpetrators had meticulously covered the site with interlocking floor tiles and even lit a fire pit (dhuna) over the graves to eliminate forensic evidence and mislead anyone looking for the missing men.
Execution of the Crime Using Sedatives
Interrogation of the arrested accomplices revealed the meticulous planning behind the murders. The main accused priest, along with his disciples Ujjwal Panchal and Krishna Yadav, plotted to silence the victims permanently. On the fateful day, when Ankit and Israr arrived at the temple, they were allegedly served tea laced with sleeping pills and sedative injections.
Once the victims lost consciousness, the priest and his disciples executed the murders. They buried the bodies inside the temple compound to keep the crime hidden. While the two disciples were captured earlier and sent to judicial custody, the main priest managed to evade immediate capture and fled the state.
"The primary accused priest Naresh Nath confessed during interrogation that the victim Ankit was repeatedly blackmailing him using private digital media and had extorted substantial sums of money. Fearing the leakage of these videos, he conspired with his disciples to eliminate both men." — Chandinagar Police
A Manhunt Spanning Nepal and Kolkata
Realizing the gravity of the crime, the fugitive priest fled to Nepal to escape law enforcement. However, severe floods struck Nepal shortly after his arrival, destroying his safehouse. Desperate and on the run, he traveled straight to Kolkata, where he attempted to blend in by adopting the guise of a religious mendicant (bhikshu) among acquaintances.
To avoid digital surveillance, the accused discarded his smartphone and started using a basic feature phone. Despite his attempts to stay off the grid, police tracking teams successfully cornered him in West Bengal and brought him back to Uttar Pradesh to face justice. The swift legal proceedings have brought a sense of closure to the grieving families while exposing the dark side of a trusted religious figure.
