Clashes over the construction of a temple on disputed land in Uttar Pradesh’s Ekauni village killed five people on Sunday evening. Senior police officials rushed to the area and security forces were deployed after the killings.
The violence began when 35-year-old Suresh Pandey, a sub-inspector in Kanpur district, allegedly objected to a temple being constructed by his neighbor and retired PAC constable Shiv Sewak Pandey, 58.
Suresh said the land on which the temple was being built belonged to his family, sources said.
Soon members of both families assembled to the scene and had an altercation over the issue. In a fit of rage, Suresh allegedly went inside the house and returned with his licensed rifle.
He then opened fire, killing Shiv, his son Vimal (30) and brother Krishna Sewak (40) on the spot, sources said. Shiv’s brother Prem Sewak also sustained bullet wounds.
The triple murders triggered a violent backlash from the other group. Shiv’s family members allegedly attacked Suresh and his father Ram Kailash (65) with sticks and killed them on the spot.
Heavy force was rushed to the scene to control the situation. DIG Jitendra Kumar Shahi, SSP Joginder Kumar and other senior police officials also visited the village. The bodies were sent for post mortem examination.
{{/usCountry}}Heavy force was rushed to the scene to control the situation. DIG Jitendra Kumar Shahi, SSP Joginder Kumar and other senior police officials also visited the village. The bodies were sent for post mortem examination.
{{/usCountry}}