Advertisement
Lucknow: In a shocking incident, a 35-year-old man, Vinod Kashyap, was brutally attacked and murdered while collecting donations to celebrate the upcoming 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.
Kashyap’s family alleged that the attack was communal, claiming that the attackers were from a different community. However, the police, including Additional Superintendent Akhilesh Singh and Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddharth Shankar Meena, have refuted this claim, and said that the dispute was not religiously motivated.
The victim was gathering 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.
Vinod Kashyap’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.
The tragic incident occurred around 11 am on Sunday morning, in which two people were injured and Kashyap later died. Four people have been detained in connection with the incident, identified as Kale Khan, Chhotu Khan, Suhail, and Jamshed. Police have registered an FIR at Gangaghat police station based on the complaint of Kashyap’s wife.
According to the victim’s family complaint, Kashyap and his brother were involved in a donation drive for a temple event when they were attacked. They allege that a known criminal was also included in the group of attackers. This has intensified the family’s claim that the attack was a communal attack, although police say the dispute was over money.
This brutal attack sparked outrage among the local community and they blocked the road in protest. The community is demanding strict action against the accused persons and tension remains in the area. As the investigation continues, it is important that the truth is brought out and Vinod Kashyap’s family gets justice.
