Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur

Jaipur, Oct 9: A temple priest was set ablaze by six attackers after he resisted the attempt to grab temple land in Rajasthan's Karauli district. The attackers poured petrol and kerosene before setting him on fire on Thursday, October 8.

The priest (50) was taken to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

Reportedly the priest was attacked after he resisted an attempt by the land mafia to encroach upon the land that belonged to the temple.

Kailash Meena, the prime accused has been arrested by the police. Investigations are underway to nab the others.

According to reports, part of the land was gifted to the priest by the temple authorities and he was constructing a house on the plot. The priest had suffered 50 percent burn injuries in the attack.

"Priest Babulal gave a statement to police in the hospital that few influential people including accused Kailash Meena and his sons tried to encroach his land and during a dispute accused set the fence on fire in which priest got severely burnt," Karauli superintendent of police Mridul Kachhwa said.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has condemned the act and said that the state holds place for such gruesome criminals. He further said that the criminals will not be spared, in a tweet.