A tragic incident unfolded at Delhi’s Kalkaji Temple on Friday night when a longstanding sewadar, Yogendra Singh, was brutally assaulted and later succumbed to his injuries. The violent altercation reportedly began with a disagreement over ‘chunni prasad’ and escalated to fatal violence inside the temple premises.
Singh, aged 35, originally from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, had been serving at the temple for nearly 15 years. According to police, around 9:30 pm, a PCR call alerted them to a violent scuffle taking place within the temple compound. Upon arrival, officers discovered Singh critically injured after being assaulted with sticks and bare hands by a group of men.
CCTV footage captured the horrific scene, showing Singh lying motionless while multiple attackers continued beating him with sticks. Bystanders, clearly shocked, were seen watching helplessly as the incident unfolded.
Eyewitnesses Recall the Incident
An eyewitness and fellow sewadar told ANI, “What I know is, around 9 PM, they took him from the Dharamshala. There were 10-15 people. They had iron rods and sticks, and they beat him to death. They were asking for prasad, and he asked them to wait for a few minutes, after which, they started threatening him… Whenever these people came to the temple, they came with an aggressive attitude and expected us to give them whatever they wanted.”
Following the attack, Singh was immediately rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died from his injuries during treatment.
Police have registered an FIR (No. 515/25, dated August 30) at Kalkaji police station, invoking Sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (joint liability) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation has since intensified.
Suspect Nabbed After Prasad Row Turns Deadly
One of the suspects, Atul Pandey, a 30-year-old resident of Dakshinpuri, was apprehended on the spot by temple visitors and handed over to the police. Authorities confirmed that he was among those who demanded chunni prasad from Singh and initiated the confrontation.
In a significant breakthrough, two men believed to be associated with the notorious Nandu gang identified as Arshdeep and Naveen were arrested following a brief encounter in Outer North Delhi. Both are suspected to be involved in the temple violence and are currently in custody.
Authorities have assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway and that all those responsible will be brought to justice. Meanwhile, the temple community remains in mourning, remembering Singh as a quiet and devoted servitor who faithfully carried out his duties for over a decade.
