Priest hangs himself inside Malad temple

A 33-year-old priest was found hanging in his room in the premises of Swami Narayan temple at Zakaria Road, Malad (West), on Friday morning. HT reports.

A 33-year-old priest was found hanging in his room in the premises of Swami Narayan temple at Zakaria Road, Malad (West), on Friday morning.

HT Image

The deceased, Swami Nitya Swaroop Das left, hanged himself using a nylon rope. He left behind a suicide note in Gujarati saying that God was calling him and that no one should be held responsible for his death.

According to the Malad police, around 7.30am, locals in the vicinity spotted Das through a window.

Avinash Jadhav, senior inspector, Malad police station, said, “The doors of the temple were locked from inside. We had to break the back door to enter the temple after which we brought down Das’s body.”

Das, in his handwritten suicide note, wrote: “My life’s tenure is over. I am tired. God is calling me. I am going to God. Nobody should be held responsible for my death.”

Vasant Patil, inspector, Malad police station, said, “Das hanged himself using a nylon rope in front of the idols .We retrieved Rs. 14,950 cash and a diary from his cupboard. The handwriting in his diary matches the suicide note. We have informed his family in Gujarat.”

The police have registered a case of accidental death and have sent Das’s body to Bhagwati hospital for an autopsy.