A tragic incident has come to light from Isota Lohagpur village in the Prayagraj district, where a 35-year-old Dalit farmer, Devi Shankar, was found murdered and partially burnt in an orchard on the morning of April 13. The murder took place late Saturday night and has triggered widespread anger and unrest in the area.

Preliminary investigations by police officials indicate that the victim was taken from his home around 10:30 PM by one of the accused, Dilip Singh, who allegedly called him to assist with farm work. Hours later, Shankar’s half-burnt body was discovered. A liquor bottle recovered near the site suggests that the victim and the accused may have consumed alcohol together before an argument escalated into violence.

Post-Mortem Reports Revealed the Cause of Death

The post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation, while the burn injuries occurred post-mortem, seemingly to destroy evidence. The incident is suspected to have links to a personal dispute involving a local woman.

An FIR has been filed against seven individuals, all upper-caste men, under charges of murder, rioting, criminal intimidation, and relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Those named include Dilip Singh, Manoj Singh, Shekhar Singh, Mohit, and three brothers: Ajay, Vinay, and Sonu Singh. Six suspects have been detained for questioning. However, no arrests have been officially confirmed so far.

Protest Gathered Due to Outrage

The murder has sparked significant outrage, with large crowds gathering in protest and attempting to target one of the accused’s residences. Senior police officials, including forensic teams, have been deployed to maintain order and gather crucial evidence.

Political figures, including Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, have condemned the act. In a public statement, she demanded firm action against the perpetrators and called on the government to safeguard marginalised communities from recurring caste-based violence.