Priest, attacked over land dispute, dies of burn injuries, main accused held

Jaipur: A 50-year-old temple priest who suffered burn injuries at Karauli district, after he was allegedly attacked by a group of people over a land dispute, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital here, police said on Friday.

The main accused, identified as Kailash Meena, was arrested and efforts are on to nab others,Superintendent of Police Mridul Kachawa said.

The incident happened on Wednesday at Bukna village in Sapotra, Karauli district, when Kailash and other accused allegedly set the hut of priest Babulal Vaishnav on fire as the priest was preventing them from building a plot in the temple land.

Babulal died at SMS Hospital here late Thursday evening from the burn injuries received.

According to police, the priest gave a statement to them before death and they had registered a case under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder). Now, after the death of the victim, the section was replaced by 302 (punishment for murder), they added.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the incident, stressing that there cannot be any tolerance for violence. He extended his condolences to the loved ones of the temple priest. Reiterating that the main accused in the case has been arrested, he promised that the guilty would not be spared. 

Meanwhile, Rajasthan former chief minister Vasundhara Raje hit out at the Congress government over the incident and urged the Gehlot-led government to nab all the culprits at the earliest.She alleged that the crime rate in the desert state has been rising and children, women, traders, Dalits and elderly are not safe.(UNI)