Priest lights his own 'funeral pyre'; dead

A 60-year-old priest in a village in Marathwada region of Maharashtra died after allegedly lighting his own funeral pyre, police said today.

Vithal Pole was the priest at a Hanuman temple in Suegaon village of Hingoli district, police said. He lived on the temple premises.

This morning, villagers saw smoke billowing from the temple and found Pole burnt to death. He apparently lighted his own funeral pyre, police said.

Further probe is on.