24-Year-Old Priest Beaten to Death at Devi Temple in Sonipat; Brother Alleges Harassment and False Rumours

October 9, 2026

Sonipat: A 24-year-old priest was allegedly beaten to death after a group of people entered a Devi temple in Kathura village of Gohana, Sonipat district, Haryana. The victim, identified as Sachin, was serving as a priest at the temple when the fatal attack took place.

According to the complaint filed by his brother, Aman, Sachin had been facing harassment and false rumours had been spread about him in the days before the incident. The allegations are part of the ongoing police investigation.

Sachin was rushed to the hospital by the village sarpanch after the attack, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police have registered a murder case and are working to identify those involved in the killing.

Sachin Had Been Serving as Temple Priest for Three Years

Sachin, who had studied up to Class 12, had been working as a priest for around seven years, according to his brother’s complaint. He initially went to Punjab and later served at a temple in Sanghi village in Rohtak district.

For the past three years, he had been performing religious duties at the Devi temple in Kathura village, Gohana.

Aman, a resident of Rohera village in Kaithal district, said he received information about the attack on the morning of October 8. When he reached Kathura, he learned that a group of people had allegedly assaulted his brother.

The village sarpanch, Naveen, had taken Sachin to the Government Hospital in Gohana-Khanpur. However, doctors declared him dead.

Brother Alleges False Rumours Preceded Attack

In his complaint to the Baroda police station, Aman alleged that Sachin had spoken to him over the phone two or three days before the incident. During their conversation, Sachin reportedly told him that some people were harassing him and spreading false rumours about him.

Aman said he had advised his brother to remain cautious and avoid getting into disputes with anyone.

Following Sachin’s death, Aman said he made inquiries with his brother Anup and their cousins to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. He subsequently approached the police with a formal complaint.

According to the complaint, the attackers allegedly assaulted Sachin with kicks, punches and sharp-edged weapons, causing fatal injuries. The allegations are yet to be established through the investigation.

Police Register Murder Case, Forensic Team Collects Evidence

Police received information through the Sonipat control room during the intervening night of October 7 and 8 that villagers had assaulted the priest living at the Devi temple in Kathura village.

A team from the Baroda police station reached the location after receiving the information. The injured priest was taken to the hospital by the village sarpanch, where he was declared dead.

Based on Aman’s complaint, police registered a case under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team visited the scene and collected evidence. Police are also examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area to identify the accused and establish the sequence of events.

The investigation is underway, and further details are awaited.