BATALA, Oct. 9 -- A 46-year-old pastor was murdered inside his home-cum-church at Gandhi Camp of Batala in broad daylight on Thursday morning, triggering panic in the area.

The victim, identified as Balwinder Paul, alias Laddi, was reportedly alone at his residence when two unidentified men allegedly entered the premises around 9.30am and attacked him with a sharp-edged metal-cutting tool. He suffered a severe throat injury in the assault.

Family members and neighbours rushed Paul to the Batala civil hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Paul lived alone and operated a church from his residence, where members of the Christian community regularly gathered for prayers.

His brother, Mohinderpal, said Paul had no known per...