Post-mortem examinations of the six bodies had been conducted by late Monday evening. Police sources privy to the probe claimed that one man, Satya Prakash Dubey, had been shot in the chest from point-blank range. “Blackening and tattooing formed on the right side of his chest, which was the cause of death,” a police officer said. The other deceased had suffered multiple injuries, including those inflicted with sharp-edged weapons, the officer added, his description based on the post-mortem.
Late Monday evening, the police filed an FIR on the complaint of Satya Prakash’s daughter Nisha Dubey, who lives in Deoria town. She has named 20 people in connection with the murder of her family members.
Police said two families had been involved in a land dispute that was resolved seven years ago. Investigators are now trying to ascertain the immediate provocation that led to the murder of one person and, in retaliation, the bludgeoning to death of the accused and four members of his family, while his son is battling for life in hospital.
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Taking serious note of the incident, UP chief minister Yogi Adtiyanath directed principal secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad and special director-general of police (law and order) Prashant Kumar to visit the crime scene for a first-hand ground report.
Reports said at around 6.45am, one Prem Yadav (45) of Fatehpur arrived at the house of Satya Prakash Dubey (55) in the same village.
Locals told police Yadav was riding a motorcycle and was seen repeatedly knocking on Dubey’s doors. When Dubey opened, the two engaged in a heated exchange. Dubey allegedly attacked Prem with a stick. Even after Yadav fell to the ground, Dubey kept assaulting him, smashing his head and face, police said.
As soon as Yadav’s family learned of the attack, they rushed to Dubey’s house. They were joined by relatives and other local associates who found Yadav lying dead in a pool of blood. Tempers ran high and Yadav’s family allegedly attacked Dubey, whose family members came to his rescue. Once the mob left, locals found Dubey lying dead and his wife Kiran (45), daughter Shalini (18), a second daughter (12), and two minor sons, aged 15 years and 8 years, lying in pools of blood.
Dubey’s eight-year-old son is in critical condition.
Watch UP: Deadly land dispute clash claims six lives in Deoria