Rae Bareli killings: Eyewitness succumbs to injuries

An eyewitness to last month’s killing of five people at Rae Bareli’s Etaura Bujurg village died in the neighbouring Bargdaha hamlet under the Unchahar police station here on Monday night.

Amrit Lal Prajapati, 55, succumbed to the injuries that he sustained on June 26 night when he was hit by a speeding Tata Safari during a clash between two groups.

Three persons were lynched and two others were burnt alive during a group clash in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli district on June 26 night. All the five killed were Brahmins and the issue has taken political colour since then.

Locals described Prajapati’s death as suspicious. They claimed he had witnessed the clash when he had gone to a village field nearby to relieve himself.

The police could not record Prajapati’s statement in the 21 days since the killings.

His body was cremated at Gokana Ghat in Rae Bareli under strict police vigil on Tuesday. The police helped in making the arrangements since the family was too poor. After the June 26 incident, Prajapati was first treated at the Rohania primary health Centre, the Rae Bareli district hospital and then referred to Lucknow . He returned home as he was unable to afford the medical expenses in Lucknow.

Unchahar station officer Dhananjay Singh received information about Amrit Lal’s death on Monday.

The station officer told HT: “We did not receive any application from him about the June 26 incident in which five people were killed. Amrit Lal was injured by a Safari when he was in a field to relieve himself on June 26 evening.” Singh also said, “I could not record Amrit Lal ‘s statement because I was posted to Unchahar just eight days ago “.

He said he was aware that Amrit Lal was undergoing treatment at different places in the last 20 days. The body has been sent for a post-mortem.

Prajapati’s death angered the locals but the police succeeded in preventing them from putting up a road block.

The clash at the district’s Etaura Bujurg was the result of a long-drawn animosity between village head Ram Shri Yadav and his bête noire Rohit Shukla, police had said.

Shukla and his supporters allegedly attacked Yadav’s three sons Raja Yadav, Pradeep Yadav and Krishna Yadav, leading to firing from both sides.

As more supporters of Yadav rushed in on June 26 night, Shukla and his gang tried to escape in a Tata Safari. But in the course of chase, the driver lost control and fell into a ditch after hitting an electric pole.

Supporters of Yadav soon pounced on them and lynched three persons dragging them out of the vehicle. They then torched the vehicle, burning alive two injured trapped inside.

Rohit Shukla was among those killed. Other deceased were identified as Brijesh Shukla, Anoop Mishra, Narendra Shukla and Alnkush Mishra.