UP: Man stabbed to death, kin injured as lovemarriage dispute turns violent during Panchayat; 2 held

AGRA: A 25-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death and his kin critically injured when a panchayat convened to resolve a dispute over a love marriage following elopement of a young couple turned violent in Manpur village of Etah district on Sunday.The incident took place in Kanshiram Colony when members of the 21-year-old woman's family called the village meeting next to the husband's house. But things turned ugly after a heated argument between the families and a few of them, including the main accused Aman Singh and his relative Ramu Singh, barged into the husband's home with a knife and repeatedly stabbed the latter's brother-in-law Sahibaa Singh (25) and his kin Surjeet Singh (27). Both were taken to Etah Medical College, where doctors declared Sahibaa dead, while Surjeet is battling for his life.Police said the couple lived in the same neighbourhood and were possibly in a relationship for years. However, things came to the fore when Gauri Singh allegedly eloped with Arjun Singh in Nov last year.Levelling allegations of abduction, her family filed an FIR. Police then found Gauri in Agra, and after routine medical tests, produced her before the local court to record her statement. In court, Gauri stated that she was living with Arjun on "her own free will as both are adults".The court subsequently allowed the woman to stay with her partner. On Dec 1, 2025, the couple tied the knot as per religious rituals and started living together in Kanshiram Colony. But despite the court's order, tensions simmered between the two families and to resolve matters "once and for all", the woman's family called a ‘panchayat' on Sunday.ASP Etah, Shwetabh Pandey, said, "Preliminary investigation indicates that the dispute was linked to a love marriage solemnised with court's approval. People from the woman's side entered the husband's house and assaulted the occupants. During the assault, Aman Singh (the woman's cousin) stabbed the victims. He was later arrested."An FIR was registered against Aman and Ramu under BNS sections 103 (1) (murder) and 109 (attempt to murder), among others, and an additional police force was deployed in the area.