The bodies of two men, who had been missing for nearly three weeks, were found buried behind a temple in Lahchaura village in Uttar Pradesh ’s Baghpat district on Thursday, police said.
“Based on evidence gathered during the probe and information obtained from the detained persons, police learnt that the bodies had allegedly been buried on the mahant’s premises. Investigators suspect the confrontation escalated and the men were killed and buried behind the temple. “The bodies of Ankit, 25, and Israr, 32, were recovered after police excavated the premises of mahant Naresh Nath, who is now absconding. Both the men left home on a motorcycle on July 25 and did not return. Their phones were switched off from the evening of July 27. “A missing persons case was registered at Chandinagar police station on July 29.
Two people have been detained for questioning in the matter,” said superintendent of police (SP) Suraj Kumar Rai. Said police, Ankit and Israr were close friends and lived opposite each other, according to their families. Ankit was unemployed and the only brother among five sisters, while Israr worked as a labourer and supported his wife and three children, they said. Police examined call records, mobile locations and other evidence before tracing the men’s last known movements to the temple,” Rai said. Police said Ankit and Israr had allegedly confronted Nath over his relationship with Ankit’s sister. The exact sequence of events and the motive were being investigated, police said.
The bodies were subsequently recovered on Wednesday,” the SP added.
