9 killed, 19 injured in gunfight between 2 groups over property dispute in UP’s Sonbhadra

Nine, including three women, were gunned down, while 19 injured in a clash between two group over a land dispute in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghorawal town of Sonebhadra district on Wednesday, according to news agency PTI. The incident occurred in Sapahi village. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the DGP to monitor the case and ensure effective action against the culprits, officials said. Police said Sapahi village head Yagya Dutt and his supporters allegedly opened fire on the victims following a quarrel over a long pending land dispute, police said.

The injured have been rushed to the hospital where the condition of some of them was stated to be critical.

Taking prompt note of the matter, the chief minister directed the district magistrate of Sonbhadra to provide immediate medical attention to the injured, an official spokesperson said in Lucknow.

"The CM has also directed the DGP to personally monitor the case and ensure effective action to catch the culprits," he added. 

"We can't tell exact numbers as of now. Nine persons brought to the District Hospital. Some are injured and some are dead," news agency ANI quoted District Magistrate Ankit Kumar Agarwal as saying.

आज दिनांक 17.07.19 को पुलिस अधीक्षक सोनभद्र द्वारा थाना घोरावल क्षेत्र के मुर्तिया गांव में हुई जमीनी विवाद के घटना स्थल का लिया जायजा तथा पुलिस अधीक्षक महोदय द्वारा दी गयी बाइट। @adgzonevaranasi @digmirzapur @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/68LTNZTpRW

— sonbhadra police (@sonbhadrapolice) July 17, 2019

Agarwal told UP a local news channel, Bharat Samachar, that the clash between the two groups involved nearly 100 people. The incident took place in a village close to the state’s border with Madhya Pradesh.

Agarwal told the news channel that the trigger for the clash appeared to be a land dispute. “We are still investigating,” he said.

Inspector General, Law and Order, Praveen Kumar said village head purchased 90 bigha land two years back. “On Wednesday afternoon, village head along with his associates reached to take possession of the purchased land. Locals opposed it and as a result firing took place,” The Indian Express quoted Kumar as saying, adding that two persons have been arrested.

Additional Director General, Varanasi Zone, Braj Bhushan confirmed that nine persons including four women were killed in the firing.