One more victim succumbs to injuries

KARNAL: Two days after a priest and a sewadar of a temple were found dead in Manglora village of Karnal district, one of three other victims, who were also injured in the attack, succumbed to his injuries on Monday.

Deceased Ravinder Kumar, 38, was admitted to PGIMER, Chandigarh.

The condition of two sewadars was said to be critical.

The police had booked Arun Kumar, alias Ganja, of Manglora village for his involvement in the attack on the temple priest and four sewadars late on Saturday.

Police officials associated with the investigation said preliminary investigation suggested that the accused had a scuffle with the priest Vinod Sharma following which he was attacked.

However, the police have also detained some suspects and said the interrogation was going on.

Following the protests by villagers, Karnal superintendent of police Surinder Bhoria had formed a special investigation team under deputy superitnedent of police (DSP) Virender Kumar to investigate the case

‘LAWLESSNESS PREVAILS IN HARYANA’

Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday said the murders of two priests and a ‘sewadar’ in the premises of a temple at Karnal was a testimony to the “prevailing lawlessness” in various parts of the state.

“The state government has failed to maintain law and order. The criminals have no fear of law and now even the temples are unsafe. Such ineffective government has no moral right to continue at the helm of affairs,” Surjewala, who is communication in-charge of the Congress, said in a press statement.

The gangwars, calls for ransom, cases of robberies and murders in courts have become regular, he said. “Such cases were never reported in the state before the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government assumed charge,” he added.

“Due to the failure of this government, no place of the state is safe now and people are living in constant fear,” Surjewala said.

The Congress leader said even as chief minister was himself the home ministry, the people of his own Karnal constituency were feeling unsafe.