A year-old dispute over an alleged Rs 1,000 theft ended in the brutal killing of a 22-year-old man in Chhatrian village of Sirsa district on Sunday evening. His family alleged that the attack had been carefully planned.
Victim Ashok Kumar died during treatment at Sirsa Civil Hospital after being allegedly assaulted with sticks and iron pipes by a group of 10-15 men.
SHO Labh Singh of Baragudha police station said an FIR has been registered for murder against 16 named accused — Sahab Ram, Rakesh Kumar, Yashpal, Bansi Lal, Kuldeep Singh, Ravi, Sanjay Kumar, Vinay, Kamal, Chandresh, Surender, Murlidhar, Charanpal, Mukesh and Rajender — along with five unidentified persons based on the family’s complaint. Police teams are conducting raids at possible hideouts to arrest the accused.
According to the family, the dispute began about a year ago when a neighbour, Sahab Ram, accused Ashok and his elder brother Mukesh of taking Rs 1,000 from his field. Although the matter was discussed in the village panchayat and was believed to have been settled, the family alleged that Sahab Ram continued to threaten Ashok, saying he would not let the matter go.
On Sunday, Ashok, Mukesh and their uncle had gone to a field to collect fodder for cattle. While returning on a bullock cart, they were allegedly intercepted by the accused and their associates, who arrived on tractors, motorcycles and a car. The family alleged that the attackers blocked their path, chased the three and caught Ashok after his brother and uncle managed to escape.
Ashok was allegedly beaten repeatedly with sticks and iron pipes, mainly on his arms, legs and back. The family claimed that before his death, Ashok told them the attackers deliberately avoided hitting his head and instead instructed each other to inflict injuries severe enough to kill him.
The victim’s relatives also alleged that the accused had planned the attack in advance. They further accused the hospital of delaying treatment and demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved, warning they would not perform the last rites until the accused are arrested.