In a tragic incident that unfolded on January 14 in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, local farmer leader Vinod Kashyap lost his life, and his brother Durga Shankar Kashyap sustained severe injuries during a violent confrontation. The clash occurred while the brothers were collecting donations for an upcoming event at the village temple, scheduled for January 22, 2024, to mark the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Bhagwan Ram at Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
According to reports, the police initially dismissed any communal angle, attributing the incident to a dispute over money between two groups involved in the fund collection.
The Kashyap brothers were in the Champapurwa locality, actively seeking contributions for the village temple event. Local criminal Kale Khan and his associates confronted them during the fundraising effort. The situation escalated rapidly, leading to Khan attacking Vinod with a sword. When Durga Shankar attempted to intervene, he was assaulted with the butt of Khan’s gun. Following the attack, Khan fired shots into the air before fleeing the scene.
Both injured brothers were swiftly taken to a nearby hospital, where Vinod was later referred to Hallet Hospital in Kanpur. Despite medical attention, Vinod succumbed to his injuries. Durga Shankar recounted the harrowing experience, emphasising that Kale Khan initiated the assault, likely provoked by the brothers’ ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants.
In response to the incident, enraged locals blocked the Ganga bridge, demanding stringent action against the accused. The area remained tense, prompting a significant deployment of police forces to ensure law and order. Vinod’s wife, Preeti Kashyap, filed a complaint with the Unnao Police against Kale Khan and his associates. The police registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Inspector Ramphal Prajapati of Gangaghat police station confirmed an ongoing investigation and assured that strict action would be taken against the perpetrator. The incident has stirred the community, shedding light on the need for swift justice and measures to maintain peace in the region.
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.
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.
