Prayagraj Land Dispute Turns Deadly: Man Murdered Allegedly by Younger Brothers Over Ancestral Property Row
Prayagraj: ( Mau Aima) A long-standing dispute over ancestral land took a tragic and violent turn in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district on Saturday when two brothers allegedly murdered their elder sibling during an argument over a pathway connected to a house construction site.
The shocking incident has sent shockwaves through the MauAima area, while the accused and their families fled the village after the crime.
According to police officials, the deceased has been identified as 40-year-old Santosh Vishwakarma, a furniture worker who had been employed in Mumbai for several years.
Santosh had returned home early Saturday morning after travelling from Mumbai.
Soon after reaching the family property in Badalpur village under the MauAima police station area, he noticed that his younger brothers, Vinod Vishwakarma and Ashok Vishwakarma, were digging a foundation for the construction of a house on the ancestral land.
Police said Santosh objected to the construction and demanded that a passage be left open through the property. What initially began as a verbal disagreement quickly escalated into a violent confrontation.
According to allegations made by the victim’s family, Vinod and Ashok attacked Santosh with sharp and heavy tools, including an axe, a shovel, and a metal digging implement locally known as a “rambha.”
The assault proved fatal. Santosh reportedly suffered multiple blows to his neck and body and died on the spot before help could arrive.
His wife, Archana, who rushed in to intervene and save him, was also assaulted and sustained injuries during the attack.
The brutal killing inside the family courtyard created panic and chaos in the village.
Residents immediately informed the police, following which senior officers, including DCP Gangapar Kuldeep Singh Gunawat and ACP Phulpur Vivek Yadav, arrived at the scene along with forensic experts to begin the investigation.
The injured Archana was shifted to the Community Health Centre in MauAima for treatment.
Based on her complaint, police have registered a case against Vinod Vishwakarma, his wife Neelam, Ashok Vishwakarma, his wife Neelam, and Ashok’s son Rohit. All five accused have been named in the FIR.
Police officials confirmed that the weapons allegedly used in the murder have been recovered.
One suspect has been taken into custody for questioning, while search operations are underway to trace the remaining accused persons, who are currently absconding along with their families.
Speaking on the matter, DCP Kuldeep Singh Gunawat said the murder stemmed from a dispute over access and construction on ancestral property. He added that police teams are conducting raids to arrest all those involved in the crime.
The incident once again underlines how disputes over inherited land and property continue to trigger violent conflicts in several parts of rural India, often leading to devastating consequences for families.
