Gopalganj (Bihar): A priest, who was brutally murdered, and his mutilated body was recovered in Bihar's Gopalganj district by police on Saturday, days after he went missing, media reports said.

According to an India Today report, victim Manoj Kumar, a priest of a Shiva temple in Danapur village of the district, had gone missing for nearly six days.

His perpetrators shot him dead, gouged out his eyes and cut his genitals, police said.

Locals alleged that the police deliberately delayed the investigation even after the victim’s family had reported his sudden absence.

Irate locals clashed with the police, during which two police officials sustained minor injuries.

His brother Ashok Kumar Shah is a former divisional president of the BJP.

The police said Manoj Kumar went missing when he went to the temple from his house. The police had started investigating but were unable to trace his whereabouts.

Despite starting an investigation, police were unable to locate him.

Later, on Saturday, the police discovered the victim's body in the village bushes.

As this news surfaced, the locals accused the police of negligence. This led to skirmishes between police and locals, with villagers hurling stones at the police and setting a patrol vehicle ablaze on the highway.

The victim’s brother, Suresh Shah, said the district administration had assured a speedy investigation. However, after six days, police could only recover his mutilated body.

He said the family was unaware of how and why the murder took place.