NEW DELHI: A 35-year-old sevadar at Kalkaji Temple in southeast Delhi was beaten to death following a scuffle over prasad, police said on Saturday, adding that three accused have been apprehended.
After the incident, the temple management stated that they have initiated key measures, including enhanced 24/7 surveillance and monitoring, increased security personnel, access control and visitor screening, and collaboration with local authorities.
A purported CCTV footage of the incident showed that a group of people continued assaulting the victim with sticks even when he was lying there unconscious.
The victim was identified as Yogendra Singh, a resident of Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh. He was a sevadar in Kalkaji Temple for the last 14 to 15 years. Police filed an FIR, and one of the accused has been nabbed.
According to a senior police officer, a PCR call was received regarding a quarrel at the Kalkaji temple on Friday at 9.30 pm. After receiving the call, a police team rushed to the spot. During the local inquiry, it was revealed that the accused people came to the temple for darshan.
After darshan, they demanded “chunni Prasad” from the victim, which led to an argument. In response, the accused physically assaulted the victim with sticks and fist blows. The victim was taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he passed away during treatment, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) Hemant Tiwari said.
A case under section 103(1)/ 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) has been registered. Three people have been apprehended in this case. They have been identified as Mohan (19), Kuldeep Bidhuri (20), both residents of Churiya Mohalla in Tughlaqabad, and Atul Pandey (30), a resident of Dakshinpuri. Pandey was apprehended by the local public at the spot and handed over to the police.
Further investigation is underway. The remaining accused people are being identified, and efforts are being made to nab them, police added.
Another sevadar Raju, stated that after aarti, they get time to relax and sit in their dharamshalas. Meanwhile, 10 to 15 men dragged the victim outside from his dharamshala and assaulted him to death. He further stated that they distribute prasad offered in the temple among devotees.
Pt. Sidharth Bhardwaj, secretary Shri Kalkaji Mandir Prabandhak Sudhar Committee (Reg), and Pt. Akarshan Bhardwaj stated that after the unfortunate incident in which one of the sevadars was brutally murdered, and seeing the growing concerns regarding the safety and well-being of community members (devotees, sevadars, and pujaries), temple management has initiated a comprehensive set of measures aimed at enhancing security for all individuals within the temple premises.
“We understand that temples are not only places of worship but also sacred spaces where faith, tradition, and community converge. It is our utmost priority to ensure that every devotee, every pujari, and every sevadar can carry out their duties and prayers without fear, and in an environment of peace and safety,” they said.
“We remain committed to fostering a safe and harmonious environment for all our temple-goers. The spiritual experience is sacred, and it is essential that the physical space in which we come together reflects that sanctity. We call on all devotees to cooperate with the enhanced security protocols and remain vigilant, ensuring the collective safety of our temple community. Together, we can maintain the sanctity, peace, and security of our temple, ensuring that everyone can worship and serve without any hindrances,” they added.