Two killed in group clash over driving away stray in Lakhimpur Kheri, 9 arrested

The deceased were identified as Ramjeet Singh (45) and his brother-in-law and neighbour Ram Lakhan (42). All other injured, except one who sustained serious injuries, were discharged after receiving medical aid, it is learnt.

A case of murder and rioting has been registered against 27 people by name.

According to the police, Ramjeet’s sons Kaushlendra and Lokendra drove away a stray animal through the village after it entered their fields on Friday afternoon. The animal inadvertently entered Santram’s home and damaged some household items, they said.

Enraged over this, Santram and his family members thrashed Kaushlendra and Lokendra but the matter was resolved on the intervention of local residents, it was claimed.

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. On this, Ramjeet’s family members also retaliated against 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 said 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 Sections 191 (rioting), 103 (murder), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons), 191 ( every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 333 (house trespass after preparation for assault) 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.