UP Elderly woman ascetic found dead near temple in Hathras police suspect murder by companion

Hathras (UP), Jun 24 (PTI) An elderly woman living as an ascetic was found dead outside a hut near a temple here on Tuesday morning with police suspecting that she was killed by her companion following a dispute.
    Police said that her companion, also dressed as a sadhu, has been missing.    
    Locals spotted the bloodied body of outside the hut near Bhairavnath temple, Mendu in the Hathras Junction area and informed the authorities.
    Inspector Satyendra Singh Raghav of Hathras Junction police station reached the spot, followed by Circle Officer (CO) Sikandrarao, who initiated an investigation.
    The body has been identified as Rekha Devi (70) wife of Amar Singh from Bargao village in the Sikandrarao area. She had renounced her household life years ago to become an ascetic and had been living in a hut near the Bhairavnath temple for several years.
    She was staying with another sadhu named Nem Singh, the inspector said. Locals told police that that there were frequent quarrels between Rekha and Nem Singh.
    It is suspected that during one such altercation, she was fatally struck with a stick or some heavy object by Nem Singh following which he absconded, he added.
    Circle Office JN Asthana said that the incident is suspected to have stemmed from a late-night altercation between the two.
    "She was likely killed by a blow from a stick or another heavy item. Police teams have been formed to trace Nem Singh," he said.
    The body has been sent for post-mortem and further investigation is underway, he added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)