Mandya: Three arrested for murder of priests

Mandya: The Mandya police arrested three people who brutally murdered three priests of Sri Arakeshwara Temple at Guttalu on the outskirts of Mandya city on September 11.

The accused are Viji, a native of Andra Pradesh, Manja, a resident of Toppenahalli and Gandhi of Arekaldoddi grama.

A team led by Rural Police Station NV Mahesh and PSI Sarath Kumar of the Eastern Police Station after learning about the whereabouts of the accused successfully nabbed the trio near Sandola gate of Madur taluk.

“During the arrest, the accused attacked two sub-inspectors and a constable. In self-defense, police fired at them. They sustained bullet injuries. They were first rushed to Maddur hospital and later shifted to Mandya medical college hospital,” informed Mandya SP K Parashuram.

Three priests were found brutally murdered in the courtyard of Sri Arakeshwara Temple at Guttalu on the outskirts of Mandya city on September 11 morning.

The bodies of the priests, identified as Ganesh, Prakash, and Anand, were found in a pool of blood with their heads crushed with boulders. The bodies were spotted by the villagers after they found the temple door open. The three deceased were cousins and served as temple priests.

The three used to sleep on the premises for security of the temple and its property, the police stated.

The temples come under the Muzrai department and this temple at Guttalu was rated as ‘B’ Group temple.