Decade-Old Land Feud Ends in Murder of Kalpi Bar Chief; Contractor Among Four Arrested

JALAUN: A long-running property dispute has emerged as the suspected motive behind the killing of senior advocate Gayadeen Ahirwar, president of the Kalpi Bar Association in Uttar Pradesh’s Jalaun district.

Police have arrested four men, including Kanpur-based contractor Indrajeet Singh Yadav, who is accused of arranging the murder. The alleged principal assailant, Monu Yadav, is still being hunted.

Investigators believe the killing was not an isolated criminal incident but the outcome of a prolonged confrontation over disputed land in the Kadaura area.

Ahirwar and Indrajeet had been involved in a legal battle over the property for years. Police suspect that the contractor decided to eliminate the lawyer and arranged payment for Monu to execute the plan with the assistance of three other men.

The murder has sent shockwaves through the local legal fraternity, particularly in Kalpi, where Ahirwar was a prominent figure. He had been practising law since 1981 and had reportedly been elected president of the local Bar Association for the fourth time earlier this year.

A deceptive meeting that turned fatal

The sequence of events began on October 31, when Ahirwar was returning after attending to legal work at the district court in Orai. His son, Harsh, was with him for part of the journey.

At around 3.30 pm, the advocate asked his son to take him to a nearby crossing, where he expected to meet someone regarding a legal matter.

A car carrying three men was waiting at the location. According to the police investigation, one of the occupants approached Ahirwar, touched his feet, and gained his confidence before inviting him into the vehicle for what was presented as a discussion over a legal file and tea.

The vehicle subsequently disappeared with the lawyer. When he failed to reach home, his family members tried contacting him, but his mobile phone was found switched off. A complaint was lodged with the police, triggering a search operation.

Call records led investigators to suspect.s

Police teams used technical surveillance and telephone records to identify those allegedly involved in the abduction. Sarvesh Shukla, also known as Sabbu, was among the first suspects identified.

His interrogation reportedly provided investigators with information about the killing and the involvement of other members of the alleged group.

Ashish Vishwakarma and Keshav Katiyar were subsequently arrested. The accused allegedly disclosed the location where the body had been abandoned. Police recovered Ahirwar’s remains from the Sachendi area of Kanpur on November 1.

Investigators also seized a bloodstained truck jack suspected to have been used to inflict the fatal injuries. The victim had suffered severe trauma to the head, which police believe caused his death.

Two suspects injured during forest operation

The investigation took another turn when police took the arrested men to a forested stretch in the Kalpi area to locate the vehicle allegedly used in the abduction.

According to the police account, the suspects attempted to escape and fired at the police team with a weapon concealed in the bushes. Officers returned fire, leaving Ashish Vishwakarma and Sarvesh Shukla with bullet injuries to their legs.

Both were admitted to hospital, and their condition was reported to be stable. Keshav Katiyar was also taken into custody.

Contractor’s phone under scrutiny

The alleged financial and planning link to the crime led investigators to Indrajeet Singh Yadav, who was arrested on Monday.

Police claim that examination of his mobile phone revealed WhatsApp exchanges dating from before and after the killing. The conversations are being analysed to establish how the alleged conspiracy was planned and coordinated.

Investigators are also examining other legal disputes connected with the contested property.

A separate case under the SC/ST Act involving the lawyer and people connected with the land dispute has reportedly come under scrutiny.

The matter had a court hearing scheduled on October 31, the day Ahirwar disappeared, with the next hearing fixed for November 11.

Police are now trying to establish the precise roles of all those arrested, examine their criminal backgrounds and determine whether anyone else was involved in the alleged conspiracy.

Special teams have been deployed to locate Monu Yadav, who is suspected of being the principal shooter.

The investigation is continuing.