A dispute over drying maize by the roadside in a village under the Merapur police station area of Farrukhabad turned fatal after a 65-year-old woman injured in an alleged assault died. Police have intensified the investigation and are conducting raids to trace the accused.
According to information, Kedar Pal, a resident of Nagla Pal village in the Merapur area, had spread maize along the roadside for drying. A few days earlier, a village youth allegedly drove a tractor over the maize, leading to a dispute between the two sides.
The matter was reportedly settled at the time following the intervention of villagers, and the youth had apologised after admitting his mistake. The family believed the dispute had ended, but the issue later escalated into a serious incident.
Late on Thursday night, Kedar Pal and his family members were filling the dried maize into sacks from the roadside. His wife Chameli Devi, daughter Rashmi, granddaughter Jyoti and relative Sohit Pal were present at the spot.
It is alleged that during this time, several people arrived and began an argument over the previous dispute. The altercation soon escalated into a physical confrontation. The accused allegedly pushed and assaulted members of the family, causing chaos at the scene.
During the attack, 65-year-old Chameli Devi sustained serious injuries. Family members said she lost consciousness after the incident. She was immediately taken home, but her condition deteriorated shortly afterwards.
The family stated that she died approximately 20 minutes later. Following the incident, tension spread in the village and a large number of residents gathered at the scene.
After receiving information about the incident, local police reached the spot and began an investigation. Senior officials inspected the scene and reviewed the situation. A forensic team was also called in and collected evidence from the location.
Police have questioned local residents and gathered information about the incident. Investigators are also examining the sequence of events and the motive behind the attack. Officials said all aspects of the case are being investigated.
Police have launched a search for the named and suspected accused. Raids are being conducted at possible locations, and efforts are underway to arrest those involved at the earliest.
According to officials, preliminary findings indicate that an old rivalry and the dispute over the maize were the primary reasons behind the incident. However, they said the full facts will become clear only after the investigation is completed.
Following the incident, villagers expressed grief and anger and demanded strict action against those responsible. Police have increased surveillance in the area as a precaution to prevent any untoward situation.
Police officials said further legal action will be taken on the basis of available evidence and that efforts are being made to ensure the accused are arrested and proceeded against through the judicial process.
