Kalkaji Temple Sevadar Beaten to Death Following Argument Over Prasad; Five Arrested

A 35-year-old sevadar at Kalkaji temple was fatally assaulted during a dispute over prasad. Five suspects were arrested, with the incident recorded on CCTV.

A sevadar at Kalkaji temple, Yogendra Singh, was fatally beaten in public after a dispute over prasad. The incident, which occurred around 9 pm, was captured on CCTV. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack. The altercation began when the accused demanded prasad from Singh, who had none left to offer. The situation escalated into violence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Southeast Hemant Tiwari stated that Singh was attacked with sticks and later succumbed to his injuries at AIIMS Trauma Centre. A case has been filed under sections 1031 and 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend any remaining suspects involved in the crime.

Arrests and Investigation

Among those arrested is Atul Pandey, who was caught by locals and handed over to police. Other suspects include Mohan alias Bhura, Kuldeep Bidhuri, Nitin Pandey, and Anil Kumar. Anil Kumar faces charges for harbouring the accused and helping them evade capture. The police received a call about the disturbance around 9:30 pm on Friday.

Siddharth Bhardwaj, general secretary of the temple, expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He stated that the temple committee and pujari community demand swift justice for Singh's death. Bhardwaj noted that sevadars have served the temple for generations, providing sacred services to devotees.

Community Reaction

Raju, another sevadar at the temple, recounted how Singh was attacked while sitting in his dharamshala. He mentioned that Singh had worked at the temple for over a decade and was alone when the attackers struck. Raju claimed that other sevadars were inside performing puja when the incident occurred.

The brutal nature of this attack has left both Singh's family and the temple community devastated. Bhardwaj emphasised that strict action is necessary to prevent similar crimes against temple sevadars in the future.

Political Response

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticised the BJP for what he termed a failure of law and order in Delhi. In a post on X, Kejriwal questioned how such violence could occur within a temple if law enforcement was effective. He expressed concern about safety in Delhi under current governance.

The incident has raised questions about security in religious places and highlighted tensions between political parties regarding law enforcement effectiveness. As investigations continue, authorities aim to ensure justice for Singh and address concerns about safety in public spaces.

With inputs from PTI