Madhya Pradesh: Priest 'sacrifices' wife at temple

The incident occurred on Saturday night when Satyanand, 50, tied his wife Manju Shyam, 24, with a rope and killed her ostensibly to seek the blessings of Goddess Bagulamukhi.

Updated on: Jul 1, 2014, 17:56:55 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Dindori/Indore: Dindori/Indore

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A priest killed his tribal wife who was half his age in the name of sacrifice in Bagulamukhi temple in Kurara village of Dindori district.

The incident occurred on Saturday night when Satyanand, 50, tied his wife Manju Shyam, 24, with a rope and killed her ostensibly to seek the blessings of Goddess Bagulamukhi.

The victim Manju Shyam is from the family of famous tribal painter Jangarh Singh Shyam who lives in Patan village under Dindori police station.

The incident came to light on Sunday evening when the victim’s father Jai Jodhan Singh got a call from the suspect. The real identity of the priest is yet to be ascertained as he was living in the name of Satyanand in the temple.

“We have launched a hunt for the accused. The exact reason for the killing is yet to be investigated,” said SP Dindori Ram Ashray Chaubey.

The residents of nearby villages claimed the priest came to the village about four years ago and started living in the temple without disclosing his real identity.

Mayank Singh Shyam, son of Jangarh Singh Shyam, who lives in Bhopal, while talking to Hindustan Times on the phone said, “We are shocked by the incident. This is height of brutality.

An innocent girl of my family was killed. We demand immediate arrest of the killer.” Residents said the priest also looted the jewellery of the temple and Manju’s ornaments after beheading her.

The weapon is yet to be traced. The SP, however, denied any loot. Ram Krishna Dhruve, a local artist, said the priest then went to the victim’s parents and urged them to get their daughter married to him. Since the family was financially weak, both were married about three months ago.

“Later, after protests from other family members, when Jai Jodhan, the father of the girl, went to temple to bring her back, she refused to go with him. The priest always used to lock her in a room of the temple,” said Dhruve. On Saturday night, a mass feast was organised by the priest and after that he tied the victim to a log and beheaded her.

“He then took all the jewellery and fled. On getting the information, the victim’s father reached the temple and found her beheaded body,” said Dhruve.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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