Four held for murder of former village head in Balrampur

Lucknow: Police on Sunday arrested four people in connection with the murder of a former village pradhan and former BJP mandal president Tej Bahadur Yadav in Balrampur on May 14.

Yadav was allegedly beaten to death with iron rods and sticks during a dispute at a wedding in Golhipur village of the district.

According to police, the accused — Ramdas Kashyap, Rinku, Jaykaran Kashyap and Hazari — were arrested while they were fleeing to Lucknow.

Police said that on the night of May 14, an argument broke out among women at a wedding. As commotion escalated, Tej Bahadur Yadav reached the spot to pacify both sides.

However, the dispute intensified and the accused allegedly attacked Yadav. During interrogation, one of the accused, Rinku, confessed that in a fit of rage he hit Tej Bahadur on the head with an iron rod fitted with a chain sprocket. The other accused allegedly joined in and assaulted him with sticks and rods.

The sudden violence triggered panic at the wedding venue, following which the accused fled the scene. Tej Bahadur sustained critical injuries in the attack and later died.

The victim’s wife, Sushila Devi, lodged an FIR in this connection.

Balrampur superintendent of police Vikas Kumar said raids were conducted in the village and informers were activated.

During investigation, police received information that the accused were attempting to escape and were heading towards Lucknow. Acting on the tip-off, police laid a siege to the Mathura-Mankapur road and arrested them on Saturday.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to hiding the iron rod used in the murder, along with two wooden sticks, in bushes near an orchard in the village.