Temple Turf War: Accusations Fly Over Religious Land Dispute in Uttar Pradesh

In a developing story from Uttar Pradesh, tensions flared on Tuesday as the chief priest of a prominent Hanuman temple accused Minister Vijay Lakshmi Gautam of illegally occupying a portion of the temple's land. This dramatic dispute was marked by a sit-in protest and fervent allegations.

Mahant Rajesh Narayan Das claimed that the encroached upon land was taken using unethical means, specifically citing a forged sale deed as the tool of this alleged land grab. The priest urged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to initiate a probe to ensure the temple's land remains protected amidst what he described as prevailing political pressures.

The minister, however, strongly refuted these accusations, arguing that a previously conducted revenue survey found no evidence of encroachment. As tensions simmered down, local officials promised to investigate the matter, prompting the priest to end his protest.

(With inputs from agencies.)