Dalit man says he was prevented from praying at Barabanki temple; priest accuses him of molestation

A Dalit youth on Friday (July 11, 2025) alleged that he was stopped from offering prayers by the priest at the Lodheshwar Mahadev temple, under Ramnagar police station limits in Barabanki district, alleging he was beaten up and hurled casteist abuses. However, the priest alleged that his daughter-in-law was molested.

27-year-old Shailendra, is undergoing treatment at the local medical facility. A counter complaint is submitted by the priest Aditya Tiwari, alleging that his daughter-in-law was molested by the man who turned violent upon being stopped. While Shailendra claimed that the priest and his accompanies stopped him from offering prayers and later hit him with vessel and bell inside the temple. 

“Both sides have filed a police complaint. We are investigating the matter, action will be taken after examining the CCTV footage and other evidences,” said Anil Kumar Pandey, Station House Officer (SHO), Ramnagar. Lodheshwar Mahadev Temple of Lord Shiva, located in village Mahadeva, Ram Nagar area in Barabanki district is considered one of the rarest of the 52 Shivlings found on the Shakti Pithas across India. This shakti peeth is considered to be one of the most sacred peeth with lakhs of people come to visit during Sawan.