Investigators in Rajasthan have apprehended the prime suspect accused of killing a temple priest and decamping with donation money at the renowned Lohargal pilgrimage site in Jhunjhunu district. The arrested individual has been identified as 44-year-old Suresh Kumar, son of Gyarsilal, residing in Jhajham Ki Dhani, Tan Paharila. The breakthrough came after a coordinated five-day manhunt following the demise of Sant Surajdas Maharaj at the Barkhandi Baba temple situated within the jurisdiction of the Gothra police station.
Reconnaissance and Night Stay Preceding the Crime
According to Additional Superintendent of Police Devendra Singh Rajawat, the suspect arrived at the remote hill shrine with the explicit intention of committing theft. Inquiries revealed that Kumar had initially surveyed the terrain on September 23 accompanied by two associates. The trio descended the hill the next morning, on September 24, and travelled toward Kirori Dham. However, on September 25, Kumar returned alone to the hilltop hermitage, finding Sant Surajdas by himself. Taking advantage of the priest's hospitality, the visitor dined there and stayed overnight under the guise of an ordinary guest.
Confinement in Bathroom Followed by Fatal Push
The fatal confrontation unfolded on the morning of September 26 when the priest stepped inside the washroom to bathe. Capitalising on the situation, the accused secured the latch from the outside, trapping the seer within. Sant Surajdas managed to break open the latch and emerged to confront his guest. As heated arguments erupted over the act, Kumar allegedly shoved the elderly holy man from behind. The impact sent the priest tumbling into a steep, rugged gorge below, causing fatal injuries. With the seer incapacitated, the accused broke into the temple's donation reserves and fled with the offerings.
Mingling with Mourners to Evade Suspicion
A striking aspect of the episode was the composure displayed by the perpetrator after the killing. Instead of immediately escaping the vicinity, Kumar deliberately remained on the premises. When local hermits organized an assembly to address the priest's sudden disappearance, the suspect casually took a seat among them. He continued interacting with area residents and devotees over the subsequent hours, projecting complete innocence so that no one in the crowd grew instantly suspicious of his presence.
Challenging Recovery Operation from Rocky Ravine
The matter officially reached authorities on September 27 when a local complainant named Shankarlal approached Gothra police station to report that Sant Surajdas had been missing since the evening of September 26. Visiting devotees had similarly noted the unexplained absence of the resident caretaker. A multi-agency search was immediately launched involving the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), a dog squad, a mobile forensic team (MOB), and cyber units. Tracking efforts eventually located the mortal remains resting deep inside an inaccessible ravine of the Barkhandi hills. Given the perilous landscape, emergency personnel requisitioned the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from Jaipur alongside the district rescue team to lift the body. The remains were subsequently transferred to a medical board for a post-mortem examination.
Thirty-Member Force Cracked the Lead
To expedite the investigation, a dedicated contingent of roughly 30 police officers was mobilized under the supervision of Navalgarh Deputy Superintendent of Police Sugan Singh. Key members of this operation included Gothra Station House Officer Premprakash, Udaipurwati SHO Rampal Meena, Navalgarh SHO Ajay Singh, and District Special Team (DST) Sub-Inspector Hemraj. By combining surveillance data, technical evidence, and field intelligence, the team zeroed in on Kumar and formally placed him under arrest after grilling sessions.
Interrogation Over Stolen Funds and Swift Resolution
ASP Devendra Singh Rajawat stated that while the suspect is in custody, he has been attempting to mislead interrogators regarding the exact whereabouts of the looted cash. Authorities are probing how he obtained precise details about the temple's monetary collections and whether he has any prior criminal history. The killing had previously sparked immense grief and fury across the religious fraternity and nearby settlements, prompting demonstrations and road blockades by citizens seeking prompt justice. Although police leadership had requested a seven-day window during talks with protesting delegations, the investigative team managed to apprehend the suspect and reconstruct the entire crime within five days.
