Man beaten to death with sticks in UP’s Ballia, police hunt for accused

A 35-year-old man was beaten to death with sticks by a group of men in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district. Police said the attackers stopped his motorcycle near Kaithi (Mathiya), while a probe is underway to identify and apprehend the accused.

Ballia: A 35-year-old man was beaten to death with sticks by a group of men in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district, officials said on Tuesday, adding that a search is underway to apprehend those involved in the attack.

The incident took place near Kaithi (Mathiya), beyond Malipur village, on Monday night when the accused stopped the motorcycle on which Umesh Chaurasia was travelling and attacked him with sticks.

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According to police, Chaurasia, a resident of Karni village under the Ubhaon police station area, was returning home from Malipur late Monday evening with puja items. He was riding his motorcycle when he reached the Kaithi (Mathiya) area around 7:45 p.m.

Police said a group of miscreants, who were allegedly waiting in the area, stopped his motorcycle and assaulted him with sticks. The number of attackers is estimated to be between four and six.

Chaurasia sustained serious injuries in the assault. Locals rushed him to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Seer, where doctors examined him and declared him dead.

Another person who was travelling with Chaurasia on the motorcycle also sustained minor injuries in the incident.

As soon as police received information about the attack, a team from the Ubhaon police station reached the spot and began an investigation. The police have taken the deceased’s body into custody and sent it for postmortem examination.

Investigators are now trying to ascertain the exact motive behind the attack and identify all those involved. Police are questioning residents of the surrounding area and examining other available evidence as part of the probe.

ASP Dinesh Kumar Shukla, speaking to IANS, said, “Information was received today that near the Sankat Mochan Mathiya bend, under the Ubhaon police station limits, Umesh Chaurasia was involved in a physical altercation with some youths residing in a neighbouring village. During the clash, Umesh Chaurasia sustained a lathi (stick) blow to his head. He was immediately rushed to CHC Ubhaon for medical treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.”

“According to initial assessment, it has been found, through the victim’s nephew, that a group of men from a neighbouring village attacked Umesh. Subsequently, a team was formed to apprehend the suspects. Further investigation is underway,” he added.