Man hacked to death in Gorakhpur village

Gorakhpur: A 52-year-old man was hacked to death in a village here, with police suspecting the murder was committed to avenge a past killing, an official said on Sunday. The victim, Shivkumar Tripathi, was attending a ‘brahm bhoj’ (funeral feast) in Ahirauli village under Sikriganj police station area when he was allegedly attacked from behind with a ‘banka’ (cleaver) by Rahul Chaudhary, a resident of the same village.

Tripathi suffered serious injuries and collapsed on the spot, eyewitnesses told police. Villagers tried to rush him to a hospital in an autorickshaw. However, the accused, along with his brother Rohit, allegedly intercepted the vehicle on the way.

Despite resistance from locals, the duo forced Tripathi out of the vehicle and dragged him nearly 200 metres away before attacking him repeatedly with swords, killing him on the spot. Preliminary investigation indicates the murder may have been committed to avenge the killing of the accused’s cousin about a year ago, police said.

According to villagers, Rahul’s cousin Adesh Chaudhary was murdered in 2024, and some members of Tripathi’s extended family were named as accused in the case. Investigators are examining whether Saturday’s killing was an act of vengeance. Superintendent of Police (South) Dinesh Kumar Puri on Sunday said a case has been registered in connection with the murder.

Three named accused and seven others have been detained for questioning. Police are probing the exact motive of the murder and examining the role of those involved in the attack. The body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem, the official said. Tripathi worked as a contractor for the electricity department. His son Aditya Tripathi is an advocate practising in Gorakhpur civil court.

Demanding strict action against those accused in the killing, lawyers on Sunday held a protest and blocked the Gorakhpur-Maharajganj road outside the post-mortem house.