Judicial probe into mob violence in UP dist

The state government on Saturday ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. It also suspended the SHO of Thuthibari police station V K Singh on a charge of laxity in performing his duty. As many as 51 people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident.

Ten people, including four children and two women, were burnt alive by the frenzied mob at Digari village in the district, about 300 km from here, after the “pradhan” (head) of the village was shot dead allegedly by members of the victims’ families. “A police team was present in the village. The team had reached the village after the pradhan was shot dead and was trying to apprehend the culprits,” said Dheeraj Pandey, an eyewitness. “The police remained mute spectators as they were hugely outnumbered by the rampaging mob, which kept on setting afire the houses of the alleged killers of the pradhan,’’ said another eyewitness.

Village head Dina Nath Singh was killed over a land dispute with some people. The enraged supporters of the “pradhan” surrounded the houses of the alleged culprits and set them on fire.

Some members of their families were reportedly trapped inside and by the time the fire was extinguished, ten people were charred to death.