In October 2020, Babu Lal Vaishnav, a 50-year-old Hindu temple priest was killed in Bukna village, Rajasthan.[2][3] Kailash Meena allegedly burnt Vaishnav alive after Vaishnav tried to stop Meena from trespassing on land belonging to the village temple.[4][5]
| Date | 8 October 2020[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Rajasthan, India |
| Suspects | Kailash Meena |
Incident
editVaishnav had around 5.2 acres of land which were given to him by the Radha Krishna temple trust as "Mandir Mafi" (for priestly duties in the temple).[3] Vaishnav had planned to build a house on the land. He had the land leveled by an earth-mover to commence the construction of his house.[6] The dominant Meena community disputed this and declared the land as their own.[7] The conflict was taken to the village elders who ruled in favor of Vaishnav.[6] But the accused, Kailash Meena started building his own hut on the land that the priest had leveled. This led to a fight. The priest before dying said six people including Kailash Meena poured petrol on him and set him on fire.[3]
Arrests and compensation
editThe main accused Kailash Meena was arrested within 24 hours of the incident by the Rajasthan police.[8] The family members of the priest demanded compensation of Rs 50 lakh and a government job and refused to cremate the body until their demands are met.[2][9]
Reactions
editThe Chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot declared that the guilty won't be spared.[10] Union Minister Prakash Javadekar claimed that "law and order have gone for a toss in Rajasthan".[10] BJP MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore attacked the Congress government in Rajasthan and claimed that neither the women nor the priests are safe in this state.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ मोहर सिंह मीणा (Mohar Singh Meena) (9 October 2020). "राजस्थान में पुजारी को ज़िंदा जलाने की घटना, इलाज के दौरान पुजारी की मौत". BBC News.
- ^ a b "Rajasthan priest burnt alive: Family refuses to perform last rites, seeks compensation". Hindustan Times. 10 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "Rajasthan Priest Burnt Alive; Attacked Over Land, He Said Before Dying". NDTV.com. 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Rajasthan temple priest burnt alive: 'Dying testimony will be crucial in investigation'". The Times of India. 10 October 2020.
- ^ "Rajasthan temple priest dies after being set on fire over land row, prime accused arrested". The New Indian Express. ANI. 9 October 2020.
- ^ a b Briti Roy Barman (10 October 2020). "Family refuses to perform last rites of Rajasthan priest who was burnt alive; Demands job". OneIndia.com.
- ^ "Temple priest burnt to death over land dispute". www.telegraphindia.com.
- ^ "Rajasthan temple priest set afire over land issue dies in hospital". The Hindu. 9 October 2020 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "Rajasthan temple priest murder: Victim's family refuses to perform last rites until demands met". Zee News. 10 October 2020.
- ^ a b Anand Mishra (10 October 2020). "BJP mounts attack on Cong after priest burnt to death in Rajasthan".
- ^ "BJP MP slams Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Congress over the Priest burning incident in Rajasthan" (video). 9 October 2020.