KALKAJI-LIKE CASES LEAVE DEVOTEES DISTRAUGHT

In the deluge caused by incessant rain and rising levels of Yamuna water, an alarming story got drowned—the lynching of a Sewadar at the iconic Kalkaji temple.

- SIDHARTH MISHRA Author and president, Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice

In the deluge caused by incessant rain and rising levels of Yamuna water, an alarming story got drowned—the lynching of a Sewadar at the iconic Kalkaji temple. Such stories would have immediately raised suspicions about a communal angle. It was not so; the sewadar was killed by fellow Hindu devotees, or this is the wrong word to use.

According to newspaper reports, nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the brutal killing of a 35-year-old sewadar at Kalkaji temple. The victim, Yogendra Singh, was beaten to death about 10 days ago after an argument with the accused over distribution of offerings (prasad).

The accused have been identified as Kuldeep Bidhuri (20), Sandeep Bidhuri (33), Monu Kangar (31), Rohit Bidhuri (24), and Mohan Bidhuri alias Bhura (19), all residents of Tughlakabad; Atul Pandey (30) of Dakshinpuri; and Nitin Pandey (27) of Govindpuri. Anil Kumar (55), father of accused Nitin Pandey, and Babu (40) of Tughlakabad have also been arrested for harboring the criminals and criminal conspiracy.