Priest shot dead outside Puri temple over old enmity: Police

Accused Chandan Barik, a sevayat of Loknath temple shot at bike-borne Patra twice, said police, adding, one of the bullets hit his head.

Bhubaneswar: A sevayat of a Shiva temple in Puri was shot dead by another sevayat of the same temple on Tuesday evening just outside the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri, said police.

Accused Barik was quickly apprehended by police on the spot. (Representational photo)

The deceased was identified as Sibaram Patra, said police.

Accused Chandan Barik, a sevayat of Loknath temple shot at bike-borne Patra twice, said police, adding, one of the bullets hit his head. “He was rushed to Puri district headquarters hospital but could not be saved,” said Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh. Patra was also a sevayat of Loknath temple.

Barik was quickly apprehended by police on the spot. Initial interrogations revealed that Patra and Barik had old enmity and the deceased had once tried to kill the accused. The two were also at loggerheads over Patra being in relationship with Barik’s sister, sai police.