A temple priest was killed and his body was thrown in nearby field by unidentified persons in Nawabganj area of Prayagraj district in Uttar Pradesh, police sources said on Monday.

The sources here said that the physically impaired Mahendra Mani Tripathi (45), a resident of Siwan district in Bihar, was serving as a priest in Ram Janaki temple inside IKM PG College in Anapur village.

"Tripathi's body was found from the field near the temple today morning. While the hands and legs were tied with the rope, a cloth was stuffed in his mouth," they said.

Police sources said that as there were no apparent injury marks on the body it is being suspected that the priest was strangled.

"A forensic team along with the dog squad visited the spot and collected the evidence," the sources said.

The sources also said that the body has been sent for postmortem examination.

"The matter is being investigated".

(With UNI inputs)