MEERUT, Dec. 10 -- A Bareilly court has sentenced an ascetic to life imprisonment for murdering a fellow sadhu over a long-standing dispute involving temple property.

Additional sessions judge (court no. 9) Avinash Kumar Singh pronounced the verdict on Tuesday, awarding life imprisonment and a fine of Rs.25,000 to Chandan Giri, also known as Chandrapal, a resident of Patparganj village under Aliganj police station. He was found guilty of killing Baburam Giri of Aurangabad village in the Shahi police station area.

According to additional district government counsel (ADGC) Harendra Rathore, the two ascetics had repeatedly clashed over control of temple assets. Investigators found that Chandan strangled Baburam and disposed of his body in ...