Kanpur man's death: Family alleges murder, blocks Hamirpur highway
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The death of 37-year-old Biru Singh Bhadauria in the Hanumant Vihar police station area of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has sparked a serious dispute between his family and the police, with relatives rejecting the official hit-and-run account and alleging deliberate murder. The family staged a dramatic protest on Thursday, 22 October, placing his body on the highway leading towards Hamirpur and demanding the immediate arrest of the accused.
What the Family Alleges
According to the victim's family, Biru Singh Bhadauria worked as a salesman for a food products company. They alleged that he had been embroiled in a dispute with two men — Rajveer and Mewalal, both residents of Khadepur Nai Basti — in the days before his death, with tensions persisting between the two sides.
The family's account states that on Tuesday night, Biru was returning home after attending a Dussehra fair when Mewalal arrived at the spot in a car accompanied by three other men, including Rajveer. According to the family, the group allegedly stopped Biru, assaulted him, and when he attempted to flee, hit him with the vehicle. They further alleged that the men then placed him on the roof of the car and drove away.
Biru's wife was unequivocal in rejecting the police version. 'I am saying that it was not an accident. It was murder, committed by five people. They are saying it was an accident, but it was not an accident; it was murder committed by five people,' she said.
Eyewitness Challenges Police Version
An eyewitness identified as Rahul has corroborated the family's account, alleging that he personally witnessed the men place Biru on the roof of the vehicle before it drove away. 'The police are misrepresenting the sequence of events. This was not a routine road accident, but a case of murder. I have personally witnessed individuals placing the man on the roof of the car and driving away,' Rahul said.
Rahul further alleged that Biru's hands had become trapped in the openings of the car's front windows as the vehicle moved forward. 'Both of the man's hands were trapped inside the car's front window openings. The vehicle was driven forward, and the man was subsequently thrown off before the accused fled the scene,' he added. A video reportedly circulating on social media purportedly shows a car travelling at high speed, with Rahul allegedly pursuing it on a motorcycle at the time of the incident.
CCTV Evidence and Initial Police Registration
CCTV footage related to the case has also emerged. The family claims the entire sequence of events was captured by more than 12 surveillance cameras installed in the area. Despite this, the family alleged that the police initially registered the case as a death caused by an 'unknown vehicle', treating it as a routine hit-and-run rather than a homicide.
This comes amid recurring concerns across Uttar Pradesh about the initial classification of violent deaths, which critics argue can delay justice for victims' families. Notably, the reclassification of such cases — from accident to murder — has been a pattern in several high-profile UP incidents in recent years.
Highway Blockade and Police Assurance
Biru was taken to a hospital following the incident, where doctors declared him dead at around 3 pm on Wednesday. His death prompted the family to escalate their protest, blocking the Hamirpur highway with his body on Thursday. They refused to withdraw until the police gave concrete assurances of action.
The blockade was eventually lifted after police personnel intervened and assured the family that appropriate action would be taken. Following the assurance, the family removed the body from the road and traffic resumed.
Investigation Underway
The allegations made by the family and eyewitness Rahul are yet to be officially established; their veracity will depend on the outcome of a thorough police investigation. Authorities have not yet publicly named any suspects or confirmed whether the case will be reclassified. The family is demanding that the investigation proceed from the angle of murder and that strict legal action be taken against all those found responsible. Further details from the investigation are awaited.