A young chef from Bihar was brutally killed in Himachal Pradesh, with police pointing to a suspected relationship with a local married woman as the motive. The incident has sent shockwaves through the communities involved and raised serious questions.
The Fatal Attack in Kullu
Deepak Kumar Jha, a 22-year-old chef originally from Tarapur in Bihar, was allegedly beaten to death on Wednesday in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The attack is believed to have been carried out by a group of men, including the husband of a woman with whom Deepak was suspected to be having a relationship.
According to police, Deepak had travelled to meet the woman, who is a mother of two, in the Banjar area. Upon learning of his arrival, the woman's husband and some other villagers allegedly confronted him. The police report states that he was first cornered and assaulted in the Bahu area. He was then taken to another location, Garagushaini, where the fatal beating continued.
A Life on the Move and a Family in Shock
Deepak's life was one of movement and hard work. He shuttled between tourist hotspots like Goa, Ladakh, and Manali, working as a chef based on the season. His family had a history of moving between Bihar and Delhi, having lived for years in Sonia Vihar in northeast Delhi. Deepak was considered the sole stable breadwinner for his family, which includes his parents, an elder brother preparing for a government job exam, and a sister in Class XII.
The family is in profound shock and disbelief. His elder brother told reporters that Deepak never mentioned any woman in his life and would share everything with them. Another relative suggested that even if a woman was involved, Deepak might have been trapped, and called for a thorough check of his call records and location history.
Contradictions and Police Action
The case has seen some conflicting accounts. While a taxi driver told police he brought Deepak from Chandigarh to Kullu recently, the family insists Deepak had been in Kullu since December 29. The family was first informed of the tragedy by the hospital where he was taken after the attack.
Banjar police have detained five individuals, including the married woman's husband, and registered a case. The investigation is ongoing as authorities piece together the final movements of the young chef and the exact circumstances that led to the violent confrontation.
The incident highlights a grim tale of vigilantism and violence, cutting short the life of a young man who was navigating the challenges of migrant work in India to support his family.
