Uttar Pradesh clashes: Twenty-four, including two nephews of village head, arrested in Sonbhadra; toll rises to 10

A village head and his supporters allegedly opened fire on a rival group in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra on Wednesday, killing 10 and injuring 18.

Press Trust of India July 18, 2019 12:11:32 IST
Uttar Pradesh clashes: Twenty-four, including two nephews of village head, arrested in Sonbhadra; toll rises to 10
  • Twenty-four people have been arrested in connection with Wednesday's clash over a land dispute in Sonbhadra,

  • The death toll in the incident rose to 10 with one more person succumbing to injuries, officials said on Thursday

  • The matter is likely to rock proceedings of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Thursday

Sonbhadra: Twenty-four people have been arrested in connection with Wednesday's clash over a land dispute in Sonbhadra, even as the death toll in the incident rose to 10 with one more person succumbing to injuries, officials said on Thursday. 18 others were injured when a village head and his supporters allegedly opened fire on a rival group, leading to the clash. The deceased belonged to the Gond tribe.

Uttar Pradesh clashes Twentyfour including two nephews of village head arrested in Sonbhadra toll rises to 10

Clashes broke out between two groups over a land dispute in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. Twitter @ANIUP

Superintendent of Police ST Patil said 24 persons have been arrested and attempts are on to nab others. Police have also arrested Girijesh and Vimlesh, two nephews of the village head, and are trying to trace him as well. An FIR has been lodged against 61 people including 11 named.

The matter is likely to rock proceedings of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Thursday. Samajwadi Party legislators are holding a sit-in at Chowdhury Charan Singh statue in Asembly premises ahead of the start of the monsoon session of the state Assembly. With placards in hand, SP leaders alleged that the state government has failed to control law and order.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Director General of Police to personally monitor the case and ensure action against the culprits, a government spokesperson said.  Adityanath had also directed the Mirzapur commissioner and Additional Director General (Varanasi zone) to jointly investigate the cause of the clash and fix responsibility.

The land in the district's Ghorawal area earlier belonged to an IAS officer and he had sold it to village head Yagya Dutt, who wanted to take its possession, Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh had told PTI.  When Dutt reached the spot with his henchmen in 10 to 12 tractors, local villagers tried to stop them from taking over the land, police said.  Those accompanying him then showered a hail of bullets on villagers, all tribals, killing nine of them.

Official sources said another person injured in the firing died during treatment on Wednesday night. He has been identified as Ashok Gond. The condition of some of the 18 injured is said to be stable. Some of them with minor injuries have been discharged.

Updated Date:

also read

UP: Nearly 400 coins dating back to Mughal era found in Saharanpur
India

UP: Nearly 400 coins dating back to Mughal era found in Saharanpur

Most of the coins found are estimated to be around 350 years old and the weight of each coin is more than 11 grams

Parliament building inauguration: Yogi Adityanath calls Opposition boycott ‘extremely sad, irresponsible’
India

Parliament building inauguration: Yogi Adityanath calls Opposition boycott ‘extremely sad, irresponsible’

At least 19 opposition parties led by the Congress called for boycott the event, saying the decision of the PM to inaugurate it himself and “completely sidelining” President Droupadi Murmu is an insults to the high office of President and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution.