Asked to clear off, Drunks murder woman

A 39-year-old woman in a Bihar village was allegedly battered to death by a clutch of rowdy tipplers who took offence after she asked them not to drink near her house.

A 39-year-old woman in a Bihar village was allegedly battered to death by a clutch of rowdy tipplers who took offence after she asked them not to drink near her house.

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Keshri Devi of Sheikpura village in Nawada district, about 150 km from Patna, had been upset for quite some time with the routine late night ruckus of drunken louts in the village and confronted them on Friday.

“Some people were indulging in a heavy bout of drinking near Keshri Devi’s house. When she protested, they beat her mercilessly, leading to her death on the spot,” said deputy superintendent of police Mohammad Saifuddin. The tipplers also beat up Keshri Devi’s daughter-in-law, but she escaped, he added.

Hearing the cries of the two women, neighbours rushed to the spot and overpowered one of the alleged assailants, but the rest managed to run away. Police are trying to ascertain how many others were involved in the attack.

According to Keshri Devi’s neighbours, habitual drinkers of country liquor regularly abuse and manhandle villagers.