Kumta: A priest, who went missing on Tuesday, was found murdered on Friday. His boy was buried in a farmhouse at Kujalli village near Kumta. Property dispute is said to be the reason for the murder. The police arrested two persons in connection with the murder.

Vishweshwar Bhat (54), a priest of Kumbeshwar temple in Kumta town, went missing on Tuesday. It is said that someone took him to Murur village near Kumta on a twowheeler on the pretext of performing a pooja. As he did not return in the night, his family members started searching him in the town. But, they could not trace him.

On Wednesday, his wife Saraswati Bhat lodged a complaint with the Kumta police. Acting on the complaint, the police formed a team headed by Kumta police inspector and started checking the CCTV camera footage of private shop owners in the city and mobile phone call details and location of Bhat.

During inquiry, the police learnt that Bhat along with another man went towards Murur hills on a twowheeler on Tuesday morning. When they checked the cell phone location of Bhat, it was at Murur hills, and the phone was switched off.

On Thursday, police arrested Manjunath Eshwar Hegde and Harish, who allegedly killed Bhat and buried his body in a farm house at Kujalli. On Friday, they recovered Bhat’s body.

Superintendent of Police Vinayak Patil has confirmed the arrest of two persons in collection with Bhat’s murder, and cited property dispute as reason for the murder.

According to sources, murder accused Manjunath Eshwar Hegde had adopted a son of Vishweshwar Bhat’s uncle and there was a dispute between the duo over property worth crores of rupees in Kumta town. Both of them had approached the court in this regard.

On Tuesday, Manjunath along with others allegedly murdered Bhat. It is said that a few more people are involved in the crime and hunt is on for them.