File image | Photo Credit: ANI

Lucknow: In a shocking incident, two sadhus were found murdered at a temple in the Auraiya district of Uttar Pradesh last week. The hands and feet of the priests were found tied while their throat was found to be slashed by a sharp object. The incident at the Bhayanak Nath temple in Kundarkot village, which left the whole area shocked, took place on the intervening night of August 14 and 15.

Locals allege that the sadhus, identified as Lajja Ram Yadav and Harbhajan, used to raise their voice against cow smuggling and slaughtering prevailing in the area. They told police that they were lynched by people who were involved in cow smuggling. The investigation is on.

The autopsy of one of the priests suggests that there was contusion on the right side of the head, lower left jaw, the right side of the neck and clotted blood in the right ear.

There was tension in the area as residents had obstructed roads and pelted stones in the wake of the incident. After getting a 48-hour ultimatum by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the UP police have arrested five men in connection with the case.

Talking to The Economic Times, Nageshwar Singh, the Superintendent of Police, Auraiya, said the accused were involved in cow smuggling. He added that one of the victims, Lajja Ram, had called the police on August 14 and informed them that six cows were about to be slaughtered near the temple.

Acting on Lajja Ram’s tip, police rescued the cows and held two persons, who were found to be the relatives of the accused. Singh added that one of the accused revealed that they had also chopped off Lajja Ram’s tongue as a message to those who raise their voice against cow smuggling.

The incident exposes the hypocrisy of those who come out with banners and lit candles against a targeted attack on minorities by self-styled gau rakshaks. Why there are no protests or candlelight marches for the priests?