Sevadaar Beaten to Death in Clash Over prasad at Delhi’s Kalkaji Temple
Devotees’ demand for Chunni Prasad turned violent; one accused arrested, police hunt for others
A long-serving sevadaar of the famous Kalkaji temple in south Delhi was brutally assaulted and killed on Thursday night following a dispute over the distribution of ‘Chunni Prasad’, police said. The victim, identified as Yogendra Singh (35), a native of Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, had been serving at the temple for nearly 15 years.
According to officials quoted in an ANI report, police received a call about the row in the police control room around 9:30 pm on Friday. The argument allegedly ensued after a group of devotees demanded Chunni Prasad from Singh. Chunni Prasad is a combination of a sacred headscarf and a religious food offering. When Singh asked them to wait for a few minutes, the group allegedly became aggressive.
The altercation soon turned violent as the group first hit the victim with their fists and then thrashed him with sticks. CCTV footage reportedly showed Singh lying on the ground while at least three men continued to beat him with sticks.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast Delhi) Hemant Tiwari said Singh was rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
The Delhi Police have registered a case at Kalkaji police station under sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (joint liability) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
“One of the accused, identified as Atul Pandey (30), a resident of Dakshinpuri, was caught on the spot by locals and handed over to the police,” DCP Tiwari confirmed. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest the remaining accused.
The incident has sparked shock and anger among devotees and locals, who have demanded stronger security arrangements at the temple to prevent such violent clashes.
