Varanasi: A 25-year-old youth was brutally beaten by cremation workers at Manikarnika Ghat under Chowk police station following a minor dispute over firewood for a funeral pyre on Friday. The injured youth was admitted to the Trauma Centre of BHU, where his condition was reported to be critical. Police arrested all six accused on Saturday after identifying them with the help of a video of the assault that went viral on social media.
ACP Dashashwamedh Atul Anjan Tripathi said Ramesh Singh, a resident of Chandauli, lodged a complaint alleging that his nephew Abhishek , 25, of Gopapur village under Cholapur police station, was brutally assaulted by some persons engaged in cremation-related work at Manikarnika Ghat on Friday afternoon. Chowk police registered an FIR under Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), 109(1) (attempt to murder), 191(2) and 191(3) (rioting with deadly weapons) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Rishikesh Chaudhary, Badal Chaudhary, Golu, Shani Chaudhary, Guddu Chaudhary and Anil. After sustaining critical injuries, Abhishek lost consciousness.
Ramesh and his relatives had gone to Manikarnika Ghat to attend the last rites of his brother-in-law, Banshnarayan Singh, according to the initial investigation. In his complaint, Ramesh alleged that his nephew Abhishek was also present at the ghat when some cremation workers started quarreling with him over firewood for the funeral pyre. They initially threatened Abhishek and later attacked him with sticks. He was immediately rushed to the BHU Trauma Centre, where his condition was stated to be critical.
Police identified the assailants, collected the necessary evidence and arrested all the accused on Saturday.