Boy beaten to death over lemon dispute

Biharsharif: A 12-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death over a dispute involving a lemon in Sakrawan village of Nalanda district on Tuesday, triggering tension and clashes between villagers and police.

The deceased, Shubham Kumar alias Jhagdu, son of Rajkumar Paswan, was playing marbles near a lemon tree when a lemon fell due to strong winds. Eyewitnesses alleged the child picked it up, following which the tree owner, Gorakh Mian, attacked him with sticks.

Villagers said the boy suffered serious head injuries and was bleeding heavily. Family members rushed him to Biharsharif hospital, but he died on the way.

After the death, angry villagers allegedly marched towards the accused’s house with the body. Police from Asthawan police station intervened, but the situation turned violent after stone-pelting by some villagers. Police later resorted to baton charge to disperse the crowd.

Additional police personnel from nearly 12 police stations were deployed in the village to control the situation.

A village woman, Rabri Devi, alleged the child was killed merely for picking up a fallen lemon.

“If the accused had any objection, he could have asked for money, but instead he beat the child to death,” she said.

Nalanda SP Bharat Soni confirmed the death and said tension escalated after villagers gathered near the accused’s house with the body.

“Police used mild force to disperse the crowd after the situation became tense,” Bharat said, adding that some policemen sustained minor injuries in stone-pelting.

He said 12 people have been arrested and raids are underway to nab other accused. Police said the situation was now under control.