Unknown assailants stab head priest of Kota’s famed Chandrasel Math 26 times

Kota: The 35-year-old mahant (head priest) of the ancient Chandrasel Math here was brutally murdered by unidentified assailants under Borkheda police station limits late Friday night. Police said the deceased, Devanand Van, was stabbed 26 times. He was rushed to the MBS Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Following the killing, a group of sadhus and saints, along with family members and disciples of the deceased, staged a dharna outside the MBS Hospital mortuary, refusing to take back the body for last rites and demanding the immediate arrest of those behind the murder.

No arrests have been made in the case so far.

“Police have detained five to seven suspects for interrogation and a case of murder has been registered,” said Kota superintendent of police Tejeshwani Gautam, who, along with other senior officials, reached the hospital and held talks with protesters.

“Our preliminary investigation points to past enmity linked to a dispute over the math’s land as the possible motive behind the murder,” he added.

According to DSP Rudrapratap Sharma, the assailants entered the Chandrasel Math around 12am on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. They proceeded to lock one of two priests present there in a room before attacking the mahant with a knife. Police were informed of the incident around 12.30am Saturday, Sharma added.

Investigators said a dispute linked to ownership of the trust associated with the math and the post of head priest appeared to be the prime motive behind the attack. The deceased mahant was a resident of Sawai Madhopur and had moved to the Chandrasel Math four years ago.

Late Saturday night, Kota additional SP Subash Chandra Mishra told TOI that the deceased mahant’s family and protesting sadhus had finally agreed to receive the body after police agreed to three of their key demands: forming a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case, bringing it under the Case Officer Scheme (in which a dedicated officer is assigned to individually monitor a case) and ensuring a fast-track trial.

“The body has been handed over for last rites to family members, who made no demands for monetary compensation,” Kota additional divisional magistrate Vinod Kumar Malhotra told TOI.