Two men found buried beneath temple floor, priest and son on the run

 

By Sumesh Rajan | August 17, 2026

Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: The decomposed bodies of two men who had been missing since July 25 were recovered from beneath the tiled courtyard of a temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district, with police alleging that a personal dispute involving the temple priest led to the double murder.

The victims, identified as Ankur Kumar, also referred to as Ankit in some reports, and his close friend Israr Ahmed, had gone to the temple in Singoli village under Chandinagar police station on July 25. They never returned home.

Police have arrested two temple attendants in connection with the case, while the temple priest and his son are absconding.

Personal dispute suspected as motive

According to police, Ankur opposed an alleged relationship between the temple priest and his sister and had reportedly confronted the priest over the issue several times.

Investigators believe the dispute escalated when Ankur and Israr visited the temple on July 25.

Police said the priest allegedly invited the two men inside on the pretext of resolving the dispute peacefully.

Investigators allege that the victims were served tea containing sedatives. After they became unconscious, they were allegedly administered an unidentified substance before being killed.

The exact cause of death, however, will be established only after the post-mortem reports are received.

Families report the men missing

When Ankur and Israr failed to return home, their families began searching for them.

Their mobile phones were found switched off, and relatives repeatedly questioned people at the temple but initially received no information about their whereabouts.

After several days of unsuccessful searches, the families approached police, and a missing-person report was registered on July 29.

Investigators subsequently examined CCTV footage and the victims’ mobile phone records.

Police said CCTV footage did not show the two men leaving the village, while their last known mobile phone locations were traced to the area around the temple.

Officers searched the temple premises several times but initially failed to find the missing men.

Suspicion turns towards temple

The investigation took a major turn after police received information pointing towards people associated with the temple.

Investigators also learned that repair work had recently been carried out at the temple, raising further suspicion.

Acting on information received during the investigation, police returned to the temple complex and detained two attendants, identified as Krishna and Ujjwal.

During questioning, the two allegedly provided information about the disappearance and led investigators to a section of the temple courtyard covered with interlocking tiles.

Police removed the tiles and excavated the ground beneath them.

Several feet below the surface, officers discovered two decomposed bodies, which were subsequently identified as those of the missing men.

Bodies allegedly concealed beneath tiles

Police allege that after the killings, a pit was dug beneath the temple courtyard with the assistance of others.

The victims’ bodies were allegedly placed inside the pit before it was filled with soil and the interlocking tiles were restored to conceal signs of digging.

Investigators also allege that ceremonial lamps were regularly lit over or near the burial site, helping the area appear undisturbed.

The bodies were exhumed and sent for post-mortem examinations.

Close friends who travelled together

Police said Ankur had a physical disability that affected the movement of his lower body.

Israr was one of his closest friends and regularly helped him travel around the village, often taking him on his motorcycle.

The two were frequently seen together, according to police and family members.

Two arrested, main accused sought

Police have arrested Krishna and Ujjwal over their alleged involvement in the crime.

The priest and his son remain absconding, and police teams have launched a search to trace them.

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 103 relating to murder, Section 238 concerning causing the disappearance of evidence, and Section 3(5) relating to acts committed with common intention.

Investigators are continuing to question the arrested accused while awaiting the post-mortem findings to determine precisely how Ankur and Israr died.

Further investigation is underway.