Narendra Giri, Head Of Top Religious Body, Dies By Suicide: UP Police

Narendra Giri, the head of a top religious body - Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad - has died by suicide in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj town, the police said on Monday. Narendra Giri, who headed one of the largest religious bodies of saints in the country, was found dead at his home earlier Monday evening. The police have said an initial investigation has found a suicide note whose contents are being studied.

"We are reading the note. He expressed he was upset. He also wrote what should be done with the ashram after his passing, in the form of a will," senior Prayagraj police official KP Singh told reporters this evening.

Anand Giri, a disciple of Narendra Giri, has been detained from Haridwar in connection with the suicide case, the police said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other political leaders tweeted their condolences.

"The death of Akhara Parishad president Shri Narendra Giri ji is extremely sad. While devoted to spiritual traditions, he played a big role in connecting many streams of Sant Samaj together. May the Lord give him a place at your feet. Om shanti," PM Modi tweeted.

"The death of president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, Mahant Narendra Giri, is an irreparable loss for the spiritual world. I pray to Lord Ram to provide his spirit a place at his feet and give strength to his followers to bear this pain," Yogi Adityanath tweeted.

The UP Congress unit and the BJP chief JP Nadda have also tweeted condolences.

Narendra Giri was a highly influential seer and politicians of all affiliations used to visit him in Prayagraj.