Tragedy Strikes as Newlywed Beaten to Death Over Rs 200 Loan in Gonda

Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, Aug 5 (PTI) - In a tragic incident, a 22-year-old newlywed named Hriday Lal was allegedly beaten to death over a dispute involving a Rs 200 loan. The incident has led to significant protests from his family, who resorted to blocking the Gonda-Lucknow highway with his body, according to the police. Hriday Lal, a mason by profession from Laxmanpur Jaat village, had reportedly lent Rs 700 to a villager named Ram Anuj. Tensions escalated on August 1 when Lal asked for Rs 200 of the amount to be returned. This disagreement quickly spiraled out of control and became violent. Anuj, along with his brother Ram Kishore, son Jagdish, and nephews Pankaj and Chandan, allegedly attacked Lal with sticks. After sustaining severe injuries, Lal was taken to Lucknow for medical treatment, where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries on Monday. As his body was being transported back from Lucknow on Monday evening, his family members attempted to obstruct the Gonda-Lucknow highway in Balpur by placing the body on the road. The police, called in from four local stations, intervened to disperse the blockade, employing mild force to ensure the body could be taken back to Lal’s village. Initially, his family refused to perform the last rites until strict action was promised against the accused, demanding what they called 'bulldozer action' on their homes. Under police supervision, the cremation of Hriday Lal took place late Monday night. Kotwali Dehat Station House Officer Sanjay Kumar Singh confirmed that all individuals named in the case have been arrested and charged under appropriate sections of the law. A postmortem examination was carried out in Lucknow, and further legal proceedings will be determined based on its findings. Police presence has been maintained in the village to ensure peace. In a poignant detail, Lal’s family revealed that he had married only a month before this heartbreaking incident.