LUCKNOW: Months after kicking up a storm by refusing permission to a priest who wanted to pray, buried six feel under sand, during Kumbh, the Uttar Pradesh police administration on Tuesday achieved a distinction it will not be proud of. Even as a local priest in Chandauli immersed himself, first, in a pot of boiling milk and then threw his head into a pit of burning embers, this time, police just chose to stand by and watch.
Oddly enough, it wasn’t just the police, the villagers and administrative officers who were bystanders as the horrific act unfolded. The act continued all day, and even UP’s cabinet minister, Durga Prasad Yadav, stood witness. No attempt at suicide, this, in fact, was an act of faith being performed by a priest at Chandauli’s Vijay Narayanpur village. According to local reports, the priest did not stop at bathing in boiling milk and sticking his head into fire.
In fact, he continued to repeat the act throughout the day. Sources said the transport minister, Durga Prasad Yadav, allegedly turned up in the village to witness a superhuman act of a priest. While photographer clicked pictures and locals cheeres his bravado, no one attempted to deter the God-man from carrying on. Locals also alleged the priest, apart from performing the antic himself, also poured milk on a minor, also in full view of his audiences. Still, the police as well as the passers by stood and watched in silence.
