A 35-year-old man was killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao after he was allegedly attacked while collecting donations to celebrate the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony on January 22. While some family members of the victim alleged it was a communal incident, the police said it was a monetary dispute.
The victim, identified as Vinod Kashyap, was collecting donations for a local temple in the Gangaghat area to organise a programme on January 22 for the Ram Mandir inauguration. His brother, also involved in the drive, claimed that a clash broke out with another community after ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans were raised during the donation drive.
Unnao Superintendent of Police Siddharth Shankar Meena said the incident happened at around 11 am on Sunday (January 14). “A person named Kale (Khan) from one group demanded money and assaulted the victim by hitting him with a stone, due to which he suffered severe injuries,” he told India Today TV.
SP Meena said two people were injured in the fight and were hospitalised. One of them, Vinod Kashyap, died during treatment.
The victim’s brother alleged that Kale Khan and his supporters were enraged by them chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans while collecting donations. The victim’s wife, Preeti, however, had a different version, claiming Kale Khan and his supporters picked up her brother-in-law and when her husband went to save him, he was attacked with bricks and stones.
Based on Preeti’s complaint, the police registered an FIR and detained Kale Khan and his supporters — Chhotu Khan, Suhail and Jamshed.
After the incident came to light, there was unrest in the Gangaghat area as locals blocked a road, police said.
(Inputs by Vishal Chauhan)