Four held after dhaba owner killed for shooting video of street brawl

Lucknow: Police on Monday arrested four accused in the murder of a 28-year-old dhaba owner, who was shot dead for recording a brawl in the Madiaon area on Sunday.

The victim, Vijay Yadav, owner of Yadav dhaba and family restaurant near Bhitauli tiraha and a resident of Sairpur, was shot in the head on Sunday.

Though rushed to the hospital, he died during treatment on Monday, changing the case from attempted murder to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to the FIR lodged by Vijay’s brother, Ayush Yadav, at Madiaon police station, the incident began when a group of youths was brutally assaulting another boy on the roadside. Vijay objected to the violence and started recording the scene on his mobile phone.

Police said the accused got enraged after noticing the video recording. They allegedly abused and threatened Vijay before fleeing the spot. Barely 10 minutes later, two youths returned on a motorcycle and opened fire at close range. One bullet pierced Vijay’s forehead.

Shopkeepers and locals rushed to the scene while the attackers sped away. The killing triggered outrage among traders and residents, who demanded immediate arrests and strict action against the accused.

Crime branch and Madiaon police teams launched a massive hunt and tracked down the accused following a tip-off. The four accused were arrested from beneath Ghaila bridge near the riverbank.

The accused were identified as Nikhil Pandey, 20, a private security guard from Lakhimpur Kheri; Atul Singh, 24, another private guard from Sitapur; Naveen Pandey, 21, a student; and Rishabh Kumar Shukla, 20, an unemployed youth from Sitapur.

Additional DCP, north zone, Twinkle Jain said police seized two illegal .315 bore country-made pistols, live cartridges, an empty shell and two motorcycles, including one without a number plate, allegedly used in the murder.

SHO Shivanand Mishra said CCTV footage, eyewitness statements and mobile evidence helped investigators crack the case quickly.

The accused allegedly told police that despite being threatened and warned of serious consequences, the dhaba owner continued filming the street brawl and even challenged them.