A shocking and tragic incident has emerged from the Udaipurwati area of Jhunjhunu district, where the body of 80-year-old seer Surajdas Ji Maharaj was discovered trapped in dense shrubs at the foot of a rugged hill. The seer had been missing for the past two days from the Barkhandi Baba temple situated at the renowned Lohargal Dham. While local villagers and police teams had been actively scouring the difficult terrain since his disappearance, the discovery of his remains during the afternoon hours left residents and devotees profoundly stunned.
Search Operation Led by Village Head Uncovers Body in Treacherous Terrain
A persistent community search initiative, spearheaded by Rajendra Saini, the sarpanch of Bagoria Ki Dhani, had been scouring the high-altitude surroundings. After exhaustive efforts across the steep and rocky hillside, searchers spotted the body stuck among bushes at an extraordinarily inaccessible spot directly below the shrine. As word of the discovery spread, a large crowd of villagers converged near the location. Given the steep drop, uneven rocks, and hazardous landscape that made physical access exceedingly challenging, local leaders urgently appealed for senior administrative and police personnel to reach the site immediately.
Mysterious Disappearance on September 26 and a Broken Shrine Safe
Official accounts reveal that seer Surajdas Ji Maharaj was last seen at the Barkhandi Baba temple on the evening of September 26, 2026. On the morning of September 27, arriving pilgrims and devotees discovered that the seer was not present at the shrine, prompting them to contact his disciple, Shankar Dayal Gurjar, by telephone. Upon inspecting the premises, alarming signs of intrusion became evident. The temple lights had remained unlit through the previous night, raising initial doubts. Further checks showed that the temple cash box was smashed open and the stored money was completely missing. The bathroom door was likewise found broken, and widespread ransacking was visible across the premises, prompting the disciple to register a missing person complaint at Gothra police station.
Locals Suspect Foul Play and Robbery as Investigators Await Autopsy
The circumstances of broken locks, stolen cash, and the elderly seer's body ending up trapped in thorny brush deep in the gorge have prompted villagers to allege murder. Community members strongly suspect that unknown assailants attacked the shrine on the night of September 26, ransacked the valuables, killed the ascetic, and hurled his body down the sheer cliff into the abyss. Law enforcement authorities, however, have maintained that allegations of robbery and murder cannot be officially confirmed at this stage. Officials stated that only forensic scrutiny and the official post-mortem report will establish the exact timeline and precise cause of death. Police have secured the mortal remains, facilitated the post-mortem examination, and are gathering forensic clues from the scene.
An Ascetic Devoting 32 Years to the Solitary Hilltop Shrine
According to police records, the approximately 80-year-old seer Surajdas Ji Maharaj was the son of Bhuraram. He hailed originally from Sigod Kala village, situated within the Govindgarh police station jurisdiction in Jaipur district. For roughly 32 years, he had been residing at the elevated Barkhandi Baba temple at Lohargal Dham, performing daily prayers, rituals, and solitary service. Because the shrine stands atop an isolated hill, civilian footfall remains sparse on ordinary days. The discovery of his body now leaves investigators confronting major questions regarding how the seer exited the premises, who broke open the safe, and how the mortal remains landed in such a hazardous ravine.
