Police suspects loot behind priest, woman's murder in U'Khand

Dehra Dun, Sep 22 (UNI) A local priest and a woman were found brutally murdered at a place of worship in Sahaspur area of the city, police said today.

The murder came to light when locals informed the police about two dead bodies lying in the Samarparane Ashram in Sahaspur.

The priest was identified as Swami Astay while the woman's name was Mercy. Their hands and feet were found tied with rope, a Sahaspur police official told UNI.

While the priest's head bore marks of injuries inflicted with some heavy object, the woman's neck bore strangulation marks. Some Pakistani currency were also retrieved from the ransacked room.

According to police, the priest used to pray for patients afflicted with life-threatning diseases. He had served in the church for nearly 15 years.

The woman was a cancer patient from Delhi and had been residing in a nearby ashram for over two years.

Police said they were interrogating suspects and investigations so far pointed to loot and murder.

UNI PB SP BST1709