A priest was found murdered in Barauli village with three 'ashtdhatu' idols worth crores of rupees which were in his possession reported missing, police said today.
Safdarganj police said that they last night forced the door of the 20-year-old Rajesh Dixit's house after complaints from villagers who suspected something amiss.
Inside was the body of the youth with police saying that strangulation appeared as being the cause of death. The body seemed four days old, they added.
Three ashtdhatu idols of Lord Ram, Janki and Lakshman, each weighing 32kg, were missing from the house.
Dixit was the priest of a temple and had kept the idols in his house after the temple was damaged some years back.
A few people have been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the case, police said.
