NEW DELHI, Oct 30: A four-decade-old land dispute between two families became the cause of a brutal murder in Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday with chopping off a 17-year-old Taekwondo player’s head with a sword.
The teenager’s wailing mother sat with the severed head in her lap for hours. Police officials said two parties had a decades-old conflict over land in Kabiruddin village under the Gaurabadshahpur police station and things turned violent on Wednesday when they clashed.
On Wednesday morning, when Anurag Yadav was brushing his teeth outside his home, his neighbour and accused Laalta Yadav came from behind and beheaded him allegedly with a single swing of a sword. Laalta Yadav is currently on the run.
Anurag was attacked and the weapon was swung with such force that the teenager’s head was separated from the torso. Two people have been taken into custody but the sword-bearer is on the run and officials said efforts are on to trace him.
Several police teams were rushed to the spot to prevent the law and order situation from deteriorating. Villagers said that the boy’s mother sat with the severed head in her lap for several hours.
Superintendent of Police Ajay Pal Sharma said, “The land dispute has been festering for 40 to 45 years. Two people from one of the parties, Ramesh and Laalta, were among those who attacked the opposite side and one person was killed. The district magistrate and I are at the spot. Some of the accused have been taken into custody and are being questioned. Further investigation is on.”
Jaunpur District Magistrate Dinesh Chandra said the people who committed the crime would be given the harshest-possible punishment. “This is an old land dispute between the two parties and it is also pending in the civil court. I have asked for a report on the dispute within three days,” he said.
(Manas Dasgupta)