BJP worker killed in Uttarakhand over dispute, protesters block roads, throw stones
Tension gripped Dehradun’s Bairagiwala village after a local BJP worker was allegedly hacked to death and several members of his family were injured in a
Tension gripped Dehradun’s Bairagiwala village after a local BJP worker was allegedly hacked to death and several members of his family were injured in a violent clash that police say began over a dispute related to water and irrigation. The incident triggered widespread outrage, protests, fresh violence, and prompted a heavy security deployment in the area. According to police, the clash broke out on Saturday evening in Bairagiwala in Dehradun district. Authorities said an argument reportedly erupted over irrigating a field adjoining the victim’s property before escalating into a large-scale confrontation. Read Full Story Police said a group of people allegedly arrived at the victim’s residence armed with sticks, wooden planks, hammers and other objects and attacked members of the family. The victim, identified as 44-year-old Vinod Kumar, was associated with the BJP and locally known as a party social media activist.
He sustained fatal injuries during the assault and died at the scene. Three other family members, including Vinod’s brothers and a woman relative, suffered serious injuries and were admitted to hospital for treatment. CCTV footage that surfaced after the incident captured scenes of chaos and violence in the village. The visuals allegedly show groups confronting each other while armed men can be seen attacking amid panic and commotion. The footage further heightened tensions in the area. The victim’s family, however, disputed the initial suggestion that the violence stemmed solely from a water dispute. Bairagiwala village head Vicky Kashyap claimed the conflict was linked to an ongoing land issue. “This is not a matter concerning water; rather, it is a land dispute. Vinod Kumar had been receiving constant threats.
We had lodged a complaint at the Sahaspur police station, but no action was taken,” he said. Kashyap further alleged that Vinod had earlier raised concerns regarding land-related irregularities and said the killing followed those developments. He demanded strict action against those responsible. Following the Kumar’s death, anger spread rapidly across the village. Large numbers of residents and members of Hindu organisations gathered and staged protests, demanding immediate arrests. Demonstrators blocked the national highway and raised slogans as police attempted to control the situation. Fresh stone-pelting was also reported in the area, prompting police to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse crowds and prevent further escalation. Additional police and Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel were deployed overnight to maintain order. Police later registered a case based on a complaint filed by the victim’s family.
The BriefWire