Ambikapur: A 60-year-old farmer was beaten with sticks and run over by a tractor during a farmland dispute in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district, leading to his death, police said on Monday.
A police official said that the incident took place on Sunday in Patrai village, located within the limits of Patoli police station, following which all eight accused, including two women, were arrested.
He added that the main accused, Bajrang Baikra, from Patrai village, is a relative of the victim, named Hosram Baikra, a resident of Salma village.
The dispute centered around 6.30 acres of farmland owned by Kameshwari, a childless woman who was the wife of Khusram’s father’s elder brother and Bajrang’s aunt.
Hosram was caring for Kameshwari and claimed his rights to the land through a will executed in his favour. However, the official said that Bajrang’s family had also claimed the property.
The matter reached the Revenue Court, which initially ruled in favor of Khosram. He added that the rival claimants later appealed the order before the District Magistrate Court, which overturned the previous decision and ruled in favor of the accused side.
The new court order exacerbated tensions between the two families.
According to preliminary information, the Bajrang family had gone to the disputed field on Sunday to plow and plant crops when Hasram, accompanied by his relatives, arrived there to stop the work.
The argument quickly developed into a violent clash. The accused allegedly assaulted Hasram with sticks, and after he fell to the ground, a tractor ran over him. The official said that the man died instantly after being crushed under the wheels of the car.
Immediately upon receiving the information, police officers rushed to the scene, and the body was transferred to forensic medicine.
“Eight accused, including two women, have been arrested. Statements of the family members and the accused are being recorded and other legal action will be followed based on the investigation,” Sitapur police officer Rajendra Mandavi said.
The arrested persons were identified as Umesh, who was allegedly driving the tractor, Bajrang, Bhuvneshwar, Manoj, Raghunandan, Budhan and two women – Kamli and Pyari.
Police also confiscated the tractor allegedly used in the crime. The official said further investigations are underway.
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