Why Are Locals Protesting in Gorakhpur After the Murder of a 19-Year-Old NEET Aspirant?

Gorakhpur, Sep 16 (NationPress) - Tensions soared in Gorakhpur on Tuesday after a tragic incident unfolded, where a 19-year-old NEET aspirant was reportedly murdered by cattle smugglers, igniting furious protests among the locals who proceeded to block the roads.

The grieving family of the victim is seeking justice for their beloved.

“He deserves the death penalty,” a relative expressed, demanding stringent action against not just the smugglers but also any negligent police officials.

Senior officials, including the District Magistrate, DIG, and SSP, quickly arrived at the location and are ongoing with the investigation.

Eyewitness Vivek Nishad, along with his grandfather, detailed the horrifying event.

“The cattle smugglers attacked the victim and took him away. After several kilometers, they shot him,” stated Vivek.

The victim’s uncle had alerted the village watchman, Gayasuddin, who immediately contacted the police.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the murder in Gorakhpur and instructed senior officials to visit the site, connect with the victim's family, and ensure that punitive measures are taken against the perpetrators.

The Chief Minister's Office announced on social media platform X: “Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has noted the tragic occurrence in Gorakhpur... directing senior administrative officials to visit the scene and liaise with the victim's family to ensure stringent action against the culprits.”

In the aftermath of the murder, chaos erupted in the vicinity. Senior officials including the SP (North), police station in-charge, SSP, IG, and DM were present on-site.

All suspects involved have been identified, and five dedicated police teams are actively working to apprehend them.

The incident transpired around 12:30 A.M. on Monday night when cattle thieves arrived in the village with three vehicles. They began releasing cattle tied to pegs, raising alarm among villagers.

In response, several villagers, including 19-year-old Deepak Gupta, rushed to intervene. Deepak raised an alarm and chased the smugglers. Unfortunately, he was captured, forcibly placed in a pickup van, and taken away.

After reportedly driving around with him for about an hour, the smugglers pushed him out of the moving vehicle, leading to his tragic demise.

Following the murder, an enraged crowd set a truck ablaze. The smugglers managed to escape in another vehicle.

Local residents gathered in protest, blocking the road at Jungle Dhushad. Tensions escalated, prompting a heavy police presence to maintain order. The DM, DIG, SSP, and other senior officials visited the victim's family as investigations continued.

SSP Rajkaran Nair provided an update on the case, stating, "We learned of this incident at 3 A.M. A case has been registered under the relevant sections, and the post-mortem is underway. Any further information from the post-mortem will be shared with you."

"Some reports indicated a firearm injury. I have seen the body; injuries were present, but no firearm injury has been detected so far. We will share any facts that emerge in the post-mortem report. All identified suspects are being pursued, with five teams currently working on arrests. Our teams are in the areas where the suspects are believed to reside, acting swiftly to ensure apprehension," he continued.

He further explained, "The suspects arrived in two vehicles. One of them became stuck in the village, prompting the smugglers to flee. A combing operation is currently taking place in the village. One of the cattle smugglers who was beaten by the villagers is injured and receiving treatment, which our team is managing as well."

"The operation is ongoing, and our teams are tracking down the remaining suspects whose names have emerged. Five teams are working on this case. Further legal actions will proceed post discussions with the family. Updates will be relayed to the media," he stated.

He also confirmed that several police personnel were injured during the incident.

"As I mentioned, while the youth was being beaten by the villagers, some stones thrown struck our officers as well. One officer is receiving treatment, and several others sustained injuries," he clarified.

Addressing the demands of the victim’s family, he emphasized, "The family has called for the arrest of all suspects and the most severe punishment for them. They desire that the culprits face justice in court. Their primary demand is for strict actions, and given the numerous witnesses in this case, robust measures will definitely be enacted against all found guilty."

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Deepak Meena also responded, assuring that all actions are being taken to support the family and deliver justice.

He remarked, "As you all know, this tragic event has occurred, and the police are acting. Continuous arrests are in progress, and strict actions will be enforced against the responsible parties."

"All necessary measures have been initiated. A three-member committee has been established, and the post-mortem is being conducted with videography. The family has been informed, and we are in constant communication with them. We are expediting all formalities regarding financial assistance and government aid available to the family," he concluded.