UP News: Dalit man stabbed to death in Hathras due to old enmity, angry villagers blocked the highway
Life lost due to old rivalry, huge uproar after the murder, two accused arrested, police busy searching for the rest.
Published on: 11 Sep 2025, 10:57 am
Agra: There was a commotion in Arjunpur village of Chandapa police station area of Hathras district on Tuesday night when some upper caste youths allegedly killed a Dalit man due to old enmity. The deceased has been identified as Vinay Kumar, who died in the hospital after being stabbed in the chest. Tension spread in the area after the incident and angry villagers and family members blocked the Agra-Aligarh highway for about two hours demanding justice. The angry mob also pelted stones at the houses of the accused.
Members of Bhim Army and BSP also joined this protest, which made the situation more serious. Heavy police force had to be deployed on the spot to maintain law and order.
When Vinay Kumar’s body reached the village on Wednesday, the atmosphere became heated once again. The family flatly refused to perform the last rites until all the accused were arrested and a relative of the deceased was assured of a government job. After a deadlock that lasted for about four hours and talks with administrative officials, the body was cremated near the village pond after the assurances received. Let us tell you that the deceased Vinay Kumar was in his 40s and was an ‘animal friend’ who used to help in animal husbandry related work.
Giving information on this matter, SP Chiranjeev Nath Sinha said, “A case has been registered immediately under the relevant sections. The two main accused, Rajesh Kaushik and Shiv Kumar, have been arrested and presented in the court on Wednesday. Four police teams have been formed to nab the remaining accused. The family has cremated the deceased as per legal and traditional procedures. The law and order situation in the area is now under control.”
Police have registered a case in the matter under sections 103 (murder), 191-2 (rioting), 109 (attempt to murder), 190 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) and the SC/ST Act.
The deceased’s brother, Litesh Kumar, gave details of the entire incident in his complaint to the police. He said, “When my elder brother Vinay Kumar went out to see our animals in the barn, Raju Kaushik, Rajesh Kaushik, Shiv Kumar Kaushik, Vinod Kaushik, Ramkishan, Ramkumar and Shyamvihari from the same village surrounded him. Rajesh and Shiv Kumar held my brother, while Vinod, Ramkishan, Ramkumar and Shyamvihari were shouting, ‘Don’t leave him alive today, kill him.’ Meanwhile, Raju Kaushik stabbed my brother.”
Litesh further said, “Hearing the screams, Vinay’s son Navnish, his wife, I and the neighbours ran outside and saw that they were attacking my brother. When my nephew Navnish tried to catch them, the attackers also seriously injured him. They also threatened to kill the entire family and drive them out of the village in the future. I took my brother Vinay and nephew Navnish to Bangla Hospital, where doctors declared Vinay dead.”
