Bodies of 2 missing friends found buried behind temple in UP's Baghpat

Two men, Ankit, 25, and Israr, 32, who had been missing for nearly three weeks, were discovered buried behind a temple in Lahchaura village, Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, according to police. Superintendent of Police Suraj Kumar Rai disclosed that the bodies were unearthed after an excavation at the premises of mahant Naresh Nath, who is currently evading capture. Two individuals have been apprehended for interrogation in connection with the incident.

The police obtained crucial information and evidence that led them to believe the bodies had been interred on the mahant's land. The victims were identified as close friends who resided opposite each other in the village. Ankit, who was unemployed and the sole brother among five sisters, and Israr, a laborer supporting his wife and three children, went missing on a motorcycle on July 25 and did not return.

Their mobile phones ceased operation on July 27. The case was registered at Chandinagar police station on July 29 following a report of their absence.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the men had allegedly confronted Mahant Naresh Nath over his relationship with Ankit's sister. Police suspect that this confrontation escalated, resulting in the men's death and subsequent concealment behind the temple. The corpses were in a highly decomposed state and were identified through their clothing and personal effects. Post-mortem examinations were conducted, and a forensic team collected additional evidence from the location.

The precise sequence of events and the motive behind the alleged confrontation remain under investigation, as stated by the SP.