Rajasthan priest killed in temple scuffle over dominance

A temple priest in Rajasthan was arrested for allegedly stabbing another priest during a scuffle. This incident occurred on the evening of March 21, 2025, during the "Aarti" ceremony at the Panchmukhi Balaji temple in Dausa district. The police report states that the two priests were fighting for supremacy in the temple at the time. The younger priest, Shivpal Das, 30, reportedly attacked Parshuram Das Maharaj, 60, with a knife. Parshuram Das was quickly taken to the hospital but died from his injuries. According to police, only Shivpal Das and Parshuram Das were present during the Aarti. Shivpal told authorities that he asked Parshuram to open the doors of the sanctum sanctorum, but Parshuram refused, leading to their confrontation. During the struggle, Shivpal claims Parshuram attacked him first, prompting him to stab Parshuram in self-defense. After the incident, Shivpal fled but was apprehended by police 18 kilometers away from the temple. Investigations are ongoing to gather more details about the event.