Tension in Vidarbha town after murder of three priests

An uneasy calm prevailed in Yavatmal’s Arni town on Saturday, even as Hindu groups, led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), clamped a bandh in the district protesting the murder of three persons on Friday, condemning the police delay in arresting the culprits.

The deceased included the chief priest of a temple. On Friday morning, the devotees found eighty year old priest of the ancient Mahadev temple, Ramoji Mirase, along with Rajesh Ingole, 28, and Motiram Shinde, 55, lying in a pool of blood. The fourth person, Anil Umre, 35, who is said to be a member of Bajrang Dal, survived the attack but sustained serious injuries.

He was rushed to Nagpur’s Orange city hospital where doctors attending on him Saturday said his condition was stable.

Ingole and Shinde were also said to be members of the VHP. The people of Arni, backed by the VHP, had decided to perform the last rites only after the culprits were arrested, sparking tension across the district and triggering all-party attempt to pacify the tempers.