Dehradun: Police on Monday arrested a fifth accused in connection with a communal clash over irrigation water in Dehradun’s Sahaspur area, which resulted in one death and two injuries. The suspect, Imtiyaz (58), a resident of Lakhanwala village in Sahaspur, was taken into custody, officials said.
Background of the Incident
The clash erupted on June 13 at Bairagiwala village following a dispute over diverting water for agricultural fields and irrigation rights. Earlier, on June 14, four accused—Razzak, Salman, Javed, and Shehbaz—had been arrested.
Details of the Attack
Investigators revealed that a group of over a dozen named individuals, along with several unidentified persons, allegedly attacked three brothers—Ashok Kumar, Vinod Kumar, and Rajesh Kumar—with sticks and other objects. The victims were rushed to a private hospital, where Vinod succumbed to his injuries.
Legal Action
Based on a complaint by Ashok, police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for murder, rioting, and unlawful assembly. Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobhal formed multiple teams to identify and apprehend the culprits.
Ongoing Investigation
Officials confirmed that raids are continuing to trace the remaining accused named in the First Information Report (FIR). Additional police personnel have been deployed in and around the village as a precautionary measure.
Broader Context
The incident has highlighted simmering disputes over irrigation channels in parts of rural Dehradun, where farming communities rely on shared water sources during the cultivation season. While such conflicts are not uncommon, police noted that the scale of violence in Bairagiwala was unusual and is being treated with utmost seriousness. A senior officer added that the situation in the area remains under control.
