In a sensational killing in Meerut, a priest was found brutally murdered. He was lynched by some unknown assailants sometime in the early hours of Tuesday.

The killing led to tension in the area as hundreds of local residents gathered at the spot and staged a huge demonstration, demanding immediate arrest of the assailants. The demonstration was called off after senior officers reached the spot and assured the people that the assailants would be identified and arrested soon. They also summoned forensic experts and a dog squad to collect evidence and close down on the criminals. They later sent the body for post-mortem. According to reports, the incident took place in Badhla Kathwada village in Mundali police station area of Meerut. The body of priest Chandrapal aka Sukhi was found lying in a pool of blood in a deserted street on Tuesday morning. People going to the fields in the morning saw the body after which they raised an alarm and the local villagers rushed to the spot. The locals said that some people of the area may have lynched the sadhu.

The villagers said that Chandrapal used to live near the Siddha Peeth Chamunda Devi temple in Badla village and for the last 12 years, he was absorbed in his spiritual practice in the temple. The locals also said that there was some dispute between the sadhu and some local people. The police are still investigating the matter. According to Superintendent of Police (Rural) Keshav Kumar Mishra, the reason for the murder was being probed, after which the killers would be arrested.