Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh : A woman from the Dalit community was killed and her husband seriously injured after a man allegedly entered their house and opened fire in Jorwara village under Mau police station limits in Chitrakoot district on Sunday evening. The incident is being investigated in connection with a dispute involving an alleged relationship between the accused and a young woman from the village.
The deceased has been identified as Manoj Kumari, while her husband, Shyamlal, sustained serious bullet injuries and was referred to a higher medical centre in Prayagraj. The accused, identified in media reports as Shyamadhar Mishra alias Babua, was later found injured in a field around 100 metres from the scene. According to police, he had also shot himself.
The shooting triggered tension in the village, prompting police deployment. The incident has also drawn a political response, with Samajwadi Party MLA Anil Pradhan demanding a high-level investigation and scrutiny of the local police’s role.
Accused Had Been Found With Young Woman in a Truck
According to Chitrakoot Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh, Shyamadhar Mishra alias Babua, a resident of Jorwara village, was allegedly involved in a relationship with a young woman from the same village.
A day before the shooting, the young woman reportedly left her home after jumping from the roof. Her family searched for her and found her with the accused inside a truck parked a short distance from their house. The family contacted the police through Dial 112, following which the two were located.
Reports differ in their description of the dispute that preceded the shooting. While police-linked reports have connected the attack to tensions surrounding the relationship, another report said the young woman’s family had previously complained of alleged molestation. The exact sequence of events and the motive are subject to investigation.
Firing at the House Leaves Woman Dead
According to the initial account, the young woman’s family approached Mau police station on Sunday morning and submitted a complaint against the accused. A case was reportedly registered, and an investigation was initiated.
Police said the accused suspected that the young woman’s uncle and aunt had informed her father and other family members about the relationship. Investigators believe that this suspicion may have contributed to the subsequent violence.
On Sunday evening, the accused allegedly entered the house while family members were inside and opened fire. Bullets struck Shyamlal and his wife, Manoj Kumari, seriously injuring both.
The incident caused panic in the village. Police reached the scene after receiving information and took the injured couple to Community Health Centre, Ramnagar. Doctors declared Manoj Kumari dead, while Shyamlal was referred to a higher medical facility in Prayagraj because of his critical condition.
Accused Found Injured in Nearby Field
After the shooting, police began searching for the accused. He was subsequently found lying injured in a field approximately 100 metres from the house.
According to police, the accused had shot himself, sustaining an injury to his neck. He was taken to Community Health Centre, Mau, and later referred to a higher medical facility because of the seriousness of his condition.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the shooting, the accused’s injury and the events leading up to the attack.
MLA Anil Pradhan Demands High-Level Investigation
The incident prompted a strong reaction from Samajwadi Party MLA Anil Pradhan, who expressed anger over the death of a woman from a Dalit family and the critical condition of her husband.
The MLA demanded a high-level investigation into the incident and called for action against those found responsible. He also sought an inquiry into the role of the local police.
Pradhan criticised the Uttar Pradesh government, alleging that criminals were operating without fear and questioning the functioning of the police administration. These remarks represent the MLA’s political response to the incident.
Police Deployed in Jorwara Village
Tension and anger were reported in Jorwara following the shooting. Police personnel have been deployed in the village to maintain law and order while the investigation continues.
The initial police assessment points to a dispute connected with the alleged relationship, but investigators are examining the sequence of events and other circumstances surrounding the incident.
Further legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation and the evidence collected by the police.
