Tragedy struck Fatehpur village in Rudrapur, Uttar Pradesh, as a longstanding land dispute escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting in the loss of six lives, including five from a single family. The incident unfolded on Monday morning in the Lehda Tola locality, shrouding the community in grief.
Former district panchayat member Prem Yadav, aged 50, found himself in the midst of a gruesome attack by his rival, Satyaprakash Dubey, and his family. Prem Yadav's life was tragically cut short by sharp-edged weapons. In a horrifying turn of events, retaliatory violence followed swiftly, with Yadav's supporters from Abhaipur launching a brutal attack on Dubey's residence. This reprisal led to the tragic demise of Dubey and five members of his family, including innocent children, PTI reported.
The victims of this devastating incident included 54-year-old Satyaprakash Dubey, his wife Kiran Dubey (52), daughters Saloni (18) and Nandani (10), and son Gandhi (15). Additionally, Dubey's 8-year-old son, Anmol, sustained injuries during the attack and has been hospitalized in serious condition at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur.
This heart-wrenching incident was the culmination of a long-standing land dispute between the two families, which had supposedly been resolved seven years prior but remained a smoldering source of tension. In the wake of this tragedy, two individuals have been apprehended in connection with the killings, according to Special DG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar.
The news of this brutal incident reached the authorities at around 8 am, as an altercation between the two groups escalated into a fatal confrontation. District Magistrate Akhand Pratap Singh confirmed that the cause behind this tragic incident was indeed the festering land dispute between the two families.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has swiftly directed law enforcement to take stringent action against the guilty parties. He has also expressed condolences to the grieving members of both families and instructed officials to ensure the best possible care for the injured.
Local BJP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and pledged a thorough investigation. He emphasized that such incidents are utterly unacceptable and that those responsible would face consequences.
To address the sensitivity of the matter involving two castes, Superintendent of Police Sankalp Sharma confirmed heavy police deployment in the village.
The tragedy has sparked political reactions, with the Opposition Samajwadi Party and Congress demanding a high-level probe into the matter. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the government's role and called for a swift investigation to uncover the reasons behind the murders.
Congress also voiced its concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, lamenting that such violence had become alarmingly commonplace. The party criticized the Yogi Adityanath government for transforming the state into what they described as a "crime zone."
