Temple priest killed, idol stolen

Unknown criminals hacked to death a 65-year-old pujari (priest) and stole an ancient ashtadhatu idol of a temple in a forested area in a village under Belsand police station in Bihar's East Champaran district on Friday night, reports Kshitiz. Devotees alerted police about the crime on Saturday when they visited the temple for prayers, police said. SHO Navlesh Kumar Azad said, "Pujari Sugandh Jha had been residing at Ram Janki Math temple managed by a Rajput family in Jafarpur village. He was killed with a sharp weapon, which is yet to be found. An ashtadhatu idol of Ram and Sita is missing."