Moneylender accused of setting farmer afire arrested
The arrested accused Kallu Lodhi had a dispute over money matters with the farmer Jalam Singh Lodhi (46), a resident of Nirtala village in Khurai police circle
Khurai police has arrested the moneylender who allegedly set afire a farmer on Monday night. His two brothers who assisted him in the crime are absconding.
The arrested accused Kallu Lodhi had a dispute over money matters with the farmer Jalam Singh Lodhi (46), a resident of Nirtala village in Khurai police circle.
Khurai police station officer Anil Dohre told Hindustan Times that search was going on for arrest of Bhura and Guddi.
Meanwhile at Bundelkhand Medical College the victim is battling for his life with severe burn injuries.
Dr Shailendra Shukla told Hindustan Times that Jalam had 70-75% burns. At present his condition was stable but under observation.
Though the incident occurred on Monday night at Nirtala village in Sagar district, the farmer was not in a condition to give statement to the police. Finally on Wednesday, police were able to record his statement.
Neelesh Dohre told the HT that in 2011, Jalam Singh had taken a loan of Rs 4.5 lakh from Kallu Lodhi, the money lender from the same area.
“As Jalan Singh was unable to repay, Kallu Lodhi and his two brothers- Bhura and Guddi Lodhi-started putting pressure on him to transfer ownership of his agricultural land to them. This was the cause of the dispute between the two sides”, he said
Dohre said on Monday night when Jalam Singh Lodhi was sleeping, Kallu Lodhi along with his two brothers barged into his house. “They had an argument with him over the repaying of the loan amount and his opposition to transfer land in their name. They had a scuffle with the Jalam Singh following which they caught him, poured petrol over him and set him ablaze”, he said.
Jalam’s son Satish Lodhi told local media that Kallu and his two brothers had come on a bike. “We heard the cries of our father who had been set ablaze by them. We called the ambulance but it couldn’t arrive on time. So we ferried him to the hospital in a tractor trolley. We are praying that he survives this ordeal” he said.
Dohre said after their preliminary investigation they have lodged a case against the money lender and his two brothers section 307 of IPC for attempt to murder.