The absconding priest, who was the main accused in the alleged gangrape of an anganwadi worker in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun, has been arrested, PTI reported, quoting the police.

The incident came to light on Sunday night when the priest and his two accomplices took the 50-year-old victim’s body to her home, saying they found the corpse in a dry well in the temple premises.

Also read: ‘Should never go out at odd hours’: NCW member on Badaun incident

After the post-mortem reported confirmed rape, the accomplices were arrested on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the priest, who was on the run, was taken into custody on Thursday. ANI reported that the main accused had a bounty of Rs 50,000 on his head.

The post-mortem also confirmed that victim’s leg and a rib bone were fractured and there were injuries in her private parts. This triggered uproar, with opposition comparing the incident with Delhi’s 2012 Nirbhaya case.

Speaking about the incident, Badaun’s Senior Superintendent of Police Sankalp Sharma said, “The 50-year-old woman, who had gone to a temple on Sunday, was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Family members of the woman have accused the temple mahant (priest) and his accomplices of raping and murdering her. Based on this, a case was registered against the accused.”

The SSP said the station house officer (SHO) of Ughaiti police station has been suspended for “delay in informing higher authorities, laxity in taking action, dereliction of duty and failure in taking speedy action,” he added, PTI reported.

ANI reported on Friday that the main accused was taken to a court by the police and later sent to judicial custody till January 18