Mandya :  A gang of thieves killed three priests during a robbery of a famous temple in Mandya on Thursday night.

The priests of the Arakeshwara temple in Mandya Ganesh, Prakash and Anand have been murdered by the burglars.

According to police, the priests of Arakeshwara temple were stabbed to death by the gang, which decamped with currency notes in the ‘hundi’ (donation box) on Thursday night. However, the coins in the box were intact.

The priests, who lived on the temple premises, were asleep when the miscreants broke into the place of worship, they said.

All senior police officials, including the Inspector General of police, reached the spot and held enquiries.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa condoled the death of the priests and announced an exgratia of Rs five lakh next to the kin of each of the deceased.

In a tweet, Yediyurappa said, “It is very disturbing to learn that the priests of the Arakeshwara temple in Mandya have been murdered by the burglars.”

“A compensation of Rs 5 lakh per family of slain temple priests will be given. Immediate legal action will be initiated against the guilty.”