A temple priest, who is the prime accused in the rape-murder of an anganwadi helper in Badaun, was arrested on night, according to a news publication Hindustan.
The priest was hiding in the village where the heinous crime took place.
Hindustan quoted police officials as saying that the priest was about to leave the village when the locals apprehended him and handed him over to the cops. A cash reward Rs 50,000 was announced for his arrest.
The priest used to live in the temple where the woman was gang-raped and murdered on Sunday night. He was booked along with his two aides for the ghastly crime. The aides were arrested on Wednesday.
According to the police, the priest is a native of Aonla area of Bareilly district. He moved to Badaun seven years ago and started living in the temple.
As per the police complaint, the woman went to the temple located on the outskirts of her village on Sunday afternoon and did not return. Later, in the night, the priest and his two aides brought her body to her house in a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and informed the family members that she fell into the dry well on the temple premises. They then left the place hurriedly.
The family members, however, informed police and the body was taken for a post-mortem examination on Monday evening. The post-mortem report confirmed rape. The woman suffered a rib fracture and her left lung was also damaged because of heavy force, the post-mortem report further said.
