Priest of Soni Temple killed, money looted

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Sept 10: In a shocking incident, Soni Temple near Kokrajhar Rail Station was looted and the priest was killed. The priest of the temple, Nikhil Debth was also a lottery agent. Visiting the temple, BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary told media persons that the incident happened at around 2.30 am on Sunday. Condemning the incident, he said it could be the handiwork of professiol killers or dacoits. He said he would discuss the matter with the district administration to b the culprits involved in it. He also said the BTC would provide Rs. 2 lakh to the victim’s family.

Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh said Nikhil Debth, the priest of Soni Temple near Railway station in Kokrajhar, who was also a regular lottery agent, was killed by unidentified miscreants and money was looted. He said Debth’s family, including his two sons, were involved in lottery business and he used to go to Alipurdiar in West Bengal to deposit the collected money of lottery every Sunday. As usual he was supposed to go to Alipurduar by train with the weekly collected money amounting to around Rs. 1.5 lakh but the miscreants, who might have fair knowledge about his business, looted the money and probably were involved in his murder.

Singh said investigation was on and a person had also been arrested in connection with the murder. He also said the incident was neither commul nor an assault on religion as other properties of the temple had not been destroyed or robbed.