Eight Arrested for Murder of Dalit Farmer in Prayagraj, Probe Reveals Suspected Personal Enmity Over Affair
Prayagraj: In a shocking case that has stirred public outrage in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district, police have arrested eight individuals, including two brothers, in connection with the brutal murder of a 35-year-old Dalit farmer.
The incident took place in Karchhana tehsil on the night of April 12, and the victim’s half-burnt body was discovered in a nearby orchard the following morning.
The deceased, identified as Devi Shankar, was a resident of Isota Lohagpur village. According to investigators, the murder appears to have been fueled by personal enmity, allegedly stemming from the victim’s frequent conversations over the phone with a woman, a relationship that the prime accused, Dilip Singh, strongly disapproved of.
Preliminary findings suggest that tensions had been simmering between Shankar and Dilip over this matter for some time. On the night of the incident, these tensions came to a deadly head during a confrontation between the two.
Police officials stated that Dilip, with the assistance of his associates, orchestrated Shankar’s murder in a cold and calculated manner.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vivek Chandra Yadav, addressing the media, confirmed the arrests and shared details about the ongoing investigation. “We have arrested eight individuals in connection with the murder, including the prime suspect, Dilip Singh.
The others are Mohit Singh, Manoj Singh, Awadhesh Singh, Vimlesh Gupta, Shekhar Singh, Sanjay Singh, and Ajay Singh, who is Sanjay’s brother.
The investigation is progressing, and efforts are on to apprehend another suspect whose involvement came to light during questioning,” the DCP said.
According to the statement filed by the victim’s father, Ashok Singh, the sequence of events began on the night of April 12, around 10:30 pm, when Dilip Singh visited their home.
Ashok Singh alleged that Dilip persuaded his son to accompany him to the fields under the pretext of helping carry loads.
However, what was meant to be routine agricultural work soon turned into a night of violence and betrayal.
In his complaint, Ashok Singh also claimed that Dilip returned to their home later that night, where he allegedly hurled casteist insults at the family and issued threats, suggesting that the altercation had escalated well beyond a simple dispute.
Investigators further revealed that after completing their work in the fields, Shankar, Dilip, and several others gathered in an orchard located nearby, where they allegedly consumed liquor.
The atmosphere, already tense, took a violent turn when another argument broke out between Shankar and Dilip, reportedly over the woman in question.
During the heated exchange, the accused allegedly attacked Shankar, striking him on the head with a brick. Once he was incapacitated, the group reportedly strangled him to death.
In a grim attempt to erase evidence of the crime, the perpetrators are believed to have set Shankar’s body on fire before fleeing the scene under the cover of darkness.
The gruesome discovery of Shankar’s partially charred remains the next morning sent shockwaves through the village and prompted swift action from local police, who began rounding up suspects within hours.
In a related development, the Prayagraj district administration took action against the prime accused by demolishing a makeshift hut that Dilip Singh had allegedly constructed illegally on government-owned land.
Officials clarified that this demolition was carried out following a separate complaint filed by a resident, unrelated to the murder case but reflecting the administration’s crackdown on unlawful encroachments.
As the investigation continues, the case has highlighted broader concerns about caste tensions, personal rivalries, and the vulnerability of marginalized communities in rural Uttar Pradesh.
Police have assured the victim’s family that the case will be pursued with full seriousness, and further arrests are likely as more evidence comes to light.
