SIT cracks Palamu murder case; one Held, two Absconding

PNS

Daltonganj

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has solved the murder of a
38-year-old man in Jharkhand’s Palamu district, with police claiming
that a seemingly trivial act during a drinking session escalated into
a fatal assault.

According to police, the incident took place on May 9 in Belhara
village under the jurisdiction of the Pandu police station. The body
of an unidentified man was recovered the same day, prompting police to
register a murder case against unknown persons under the Bharatiya
Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The deceased was later identified as Vishal Yadav, a resident of the
Chhatarpur area of Palamu district.

Addressing the media on Monday, Bishrampur Sub-Divisional Police
Officer (SDPO) Chiranjeev Mandal said an SIT investigation revealed
that Yadav had been drinking with three friends—Umesh Singh, Vikas and
Abhishek—at the time of the incident.

During the gathering, Yadav allegedly gargled with a cold drink, an
act that reportedly angered the other three men. All four individuals
were under the influence of alcohol, police said.

“The accused stated during interrogation that an altercation followed,
after which the three assaulted Yadav and fatally attacked him with
stones,” Mandal said. Police said Yadav sustained severe head injuries
and died at the spot.

One of the accused, Umesh Singh, has been arrested and sent to
judicial custody on charges of murder. Police are searching for the
two remaining accused, Vikas and Abhishek, who are currently
absconding.

Investigators suspect that an earlier personal dispute between Yadav
and one of the accused may also have contributed to the violence.
Further investigation is underway.