Two dead in Lakhimpur Kheri clash over stray animal removal; nine arrested.
Lakhimpur Kheri 5 september:(Desk)In a tragic incident, two people were killed and 11 others injured in a clash between two groups over driving away a stray animal in Gola sub-division of Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district. The incident occurred on Friday night at Rada Bazar village, and nine persons have been arrested in connection with the case
The deceased were identified as Ramjeet Singh (45) and his brother-in-law and neighbor Ram Lakhan (42). All other injured, except one who sustained serious injuries, were discharged after receiving medical aid. A case of murder and rioting has been registered against 27 people by name
According to the police, the incident began when Ramjeet's sons, Kaushlendra and Lokendra, drove away a stray animal that had entered their fields on Friday afternoon. The animal inadvertently entered Santram's home and damaged some household items. Enraged over this, Santram and his family members thrashed Kaushlendra and Lokendra, but the matter was resolved on the intervention of local residents
However, in the late evening, Santram and others attacked Ramjeet and Ram Lakhan with sticks and other objects, suspecting that he and his relatives were hatching a conspiracy against them. In retaliation, Ramjeet's family members also attacked the assailants
Upon receiving information, the police rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. Ramjeet and Lakhan sustained head injuries and were taken to a local hospital from where they were referred to Lucknow. They died during their treatment on Saturday
Lakhimpur Kheri Circle Officer Ajendra Yadav stated that raids are being carried out to nab other accused. "The situation at the village is under control. Some police teams have been deployed there as a precautionary measure," he said
The FIR in the matter was registered at the Bheera police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) on the complaint of Ramjeet's son Kaushlendra. The police also invoked provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act against the accused
The incident highlights the need for better conflict resolution mechanisms in rural areas to prevent such tragic outcomes. Authorities must ensure that the investigation is conducted impartially and that justice is served to the victims' families. Additionally, measures should be taken to address the underlying issues that led to the clash, such as stray animal management and community relations.
