Mahant Murder in Haridwar: Woman and Two Others Arrested for Axe Killing
In a shocking crime in Haridwar district, three persons, including a 30-year-old woman, have been arrested for allegedly axing to death a mahant of a local ashram. The incident occurred in Takabhari village under Bhagwanpur police jurisdiction, sending ripples through the community.
Discovery of the Body and Evidence
Mahant Brijesh Das, the head of Ravidas Ashram, had been missing since February 5. The case came to light when Shyam Singh, a resident of Takabhari village, approached police on February 10 and lodged a missing person complaint, stating that Das had been untraceable for five days.
SSP Navneet Singh Bhullar confirmed that the body was recovered from the Krishna river in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district. "We have recovered the body from the Krishna river in UP's Baghpat. The axe used in the murder, the partially burnt mobile phone and other incriminating evidence have also been recovered," said Bhullar.
Investigation and Arrests
During the investigation, police examined call records and found that a woman from Gangnauli village in Baghpat district had contacted the mahant shortly before he went missing. A police team reached Gangnauli and detained the woman, her husband, and her brother-in-law for questioning.
Under sustained interrogation, the trio allegedly confessed to the crime. Police revealed that Das was in a relationship with the accused woman, and she, along with her husband and brother-in-law, conspired to eliminate the ascetic.
Motivation Behind the Murder
The woman disclosed that she had come in contact with Das when he used to visit her relatives' house. She claimed that the mahant had been blackmailing her over their relationship, which led her to decide to remove him from her path. She then involved her husband and brother-in-law in the murder plot.
On February 5, the woman allegedly called Das to her residence in Baghpat district and murdered him. The accused later transported the body on a motorcycle at night and dumped it into the Krishna river along with the vehicle. The mahant's mobile phone and blood-stained clothes were set ablaze and hidden in a fodder storage room, according to police.
Police Action and Recovery
Police have recovered the axe used in the murder, the partially burnt mobile phone, and other incriminating evidence. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities piecing together the timeline of events and gathering further details.
This gruesome murder has highlighted issues of trust and violence in religious communities, with local residents expressing shock and dismay over the incident. The police are ensuring that all legal procedures are followed as the case progresses.
