Freelance Journalist LN Singh Brutally Stabbed to Death in Prayagraj, Accused Arrested After Shootout Within Hours.
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh): Freelance journalist Laxmi Narain Singh alias Pappu Singh (50) was brutally stabbed to death in the Civil Lines area of Prayagraj late on Thursday evening, in what police described as the fallout of an old enmity.
Hours later, police arrested the prime suspect, Vishal Kumar (4,0), following a shootout in which he sustained bullet injuries to his leg.
The Murder
According to officials, the attack occurred around 10 p.m. near Gate No. 2 of Harsh Hotel in Civil Lines.
Singh, who was also the nephew of former Allahabad High Court Bar Association President Ashok Singh, was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon similar to a butcher’s cleaver.
The assailant inflicted more than 20 stab wounds on Singh’s abdomen, neck, and arms before fleeing the spot.
Eyewitnesses told police that a heated argument broke out between Singh and the accused moments before the assault.
Vishal Kumar, who reportedly worked at a local school named IPM and was allegedly intoxicated at the time, suddenly pulled out a knife and launched a frenzied attack.
Despite suffering grave injuries, Singh managed to call his uncle Ashok Singh, pleading for help, saying, “Chacha, please save me.”
The former Bar Association president immediately alerted his junior, advocate Krishna Singh, and the police before rushing to the spot himself.
Police teams arrived shortly after and rushed the bleeding journalist to SRN Hospital, where doctors declared him dead soon after arrival.
Who Was Laxmi Narain Singh
Singh, originally from Ballia district, had been living in Shakuntala Kunj Colony, Dhoomanganj, Prayagraj, with his wife and son Raj Narain Singh for several years.
A well-known and soft-spoken figure in local media circles, he worked as a freelance journalist contributing reports mainly through social media platforms. Before entering journalism, he operated a local cable network in the city.
He reportedly maintained a small office near Harsh Hotel, where he spent time writing news reports and meeting sources.
Locals said that on Thursday evening, Singh had stopped at a small shop run by a man known locally as Phufa to buy pan masala — a regular habit — when Vishal Kumar confronted him, leading to the fatal confrontation.
Police Operation and Arrest
Following the murder, police launched a massive manhunt. Within hours, a team traced the accused to the Dhoomanganj area, a few kilometers from the crime scene.
When officers attempted to intercept him, Vishal Kumar allegedly opened fire in an attempt to flee. Police retaliated, shooting him in the leg before arresting him.
“The accused sustained four bullet injuries during the exchange of fire and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
His condition is stable,” said Additional Commissioner of Police Ajay Pal. “He has confessed to the crime, and eyewitness accounts confirm his involvement.”
Police have also detained three other persons for questioning to determine whether they had any role in planning or facilitating the attack.
“We are examining all angles — personal, professional, and financial — to establish the full motive,” ACP Pal added.
Possible Motive
Preliminary investigation suggests that the murder stemmed from an old dispute between Singh and Vishal Kumar that resurfaced when the two unexpectedly crossed paths in Civil Lines.
The confrontation escalated quickly into a violent altercation, culminating in the fatal stabbing.
Forensic experts have examined the crime scene, and police are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby establishments to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Public and Professional Outrage
The brutal killing has shocked Prayagraj’s legal and media communities. Several advocates and journalists gathered at SRN Hospital late Thursday night, demanding swift justice and stringent punishment for the accused.
Authorities have assured a fast-track investigation into the case, describing it as a “heinous and targeted act of violence.”
Singh is survived by his wife and son.
#PrayagrajMurder #JournalistKilled #LaxmiNarainSingh #PappuSingh #AshokSingh #VishalKumar #CrimeInUP #UttarPradeshPolice #PressFreedom #JusticeForLNSingh #BreakingNews #LawAndOrder #CivilLinesCrime