2 Accused Arrested in Murder of Dalit Teenager in Deoria: Attacked En Route to Get Mobile Repaired; Suspicion of Love Affair Cited as Motive

Acting swiftly in the case involving the murder of a Dalit teenage girl in Nautan Hathiagarh village, Deoria, the police have arrested two accused individuals. On Monday, both were produced before the court, from where they were remanded to judicial custody. The police have also recovered the knife used in the murder.

The incident occurred on Saturday night. The teenager was on her way to Sahodar Patti Chowk with her brother, Anish, and elder sister, Gudia, to get a mobile phone repaired. During the journey, she was attacked while still on the road. Following the crime, the accused fled the scene.

**Acquaintance Formed During Visits to Maternal Relatives’ Village**

Police investigations revealed that Aditya Singh—alias Shivam Singh—a resident of Shahbazpur, has maternal relatives in Nautan Hathiagarh village. Consequently, he was a frequent visitor to the village. During these visits, he became acquainted with Anjali, a local intermediate-level student, and a romantic relationship developed between the two.

**Dispute Escalated Due to Suspicion, Leading to Murder**

It is reported that over the past few days, Aditya had begun to harbor suspicion regarding the teenager. This suspicion led him to frequently scold and reprimand her. On Saturday night, acting in collusion with his accomplice, Rakesh Kumar Gaur, he attacked the teenager with a knife, resulting in her death.

**Accused Attempting to Flee to Bihar via Kushinagar**

Upon receiving information about the incident, the police registered a case of murder and launched a manhunt for the accused. Under the leadership of Station House Officer (SHO) Ashwani Pradhan, a police team conducted a late-night cordon-and-search operation. The police apprehended both accused individuals near Patnawa Bridge while they were attempting to flee to Bihar via Kushinagar. During interrogation, the knife used in the murder was also recovered based on the information provided by the accused.

**Last Rites Performed with Tearful Eyes Following Post-mortem**

Late on Sunday night, following the post-mortem examination, the family members brought the body back to the village, where the final rites were performed in the presence of the police. On Monday evening, around 8 PM, on the banks of the Chhoti Gandak River, the father, Malkha Prasad, lit his daughter’s funeral pyre. During the last rites, the mother—Mansa Devi—along with her brothers, Ankit and Anish, and sister, Gudiya, were inconsolable with grief. The eyes of the villagers present at the scene also welled up with tears. Following the incident, an atmosphere of mourning and outrage prevails throughout the entire village and the surrounding area.

Police Statement: We Will Ensure Strict Punishment for the Guilty

Police officials have stated that strict action will be taken in this case. By strengthening all available evidence, every effort will be made to ensure that the accused receive severe punishment.

Anugrah Narayan Shahi | Deoria

Courtesy: Hindi News