A 40-year-old para teacher has been arrested for the murder of Uday Singh, also a para teacher, in the Chhaterpur police station area of Palamu district. The incident occurred on the night of May 28, police said on Saturday.
Arrest and Identification
Saurbah Choubey, officer-in-charge of Chhaterpur police station, identified the accused as Surender Yadav, 40, a para teacher at a nearby government school. Yadav allegedly killed Singh with a pharsa, a traditional sharp weapon, following a dispute over loan repayment.
Discovery of the Body
The body of Singh, 50, was found on the side of a road late on Thursday. The victim's wife filed an FIR on Friday under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. A police team led by sub-divisional police officer P Kumar used human intelligence and technical inputs to track down Yadav.
Motive Behind the Murder
According to Choubey, Yadav had borrowed Rs 25,000 from Singh six months ago. With interest, the amount escalated to Rs 50,000. Singh repeatedly demanded repayment, leading to a bitter fallout. An altercation between the two two days before the murder further escalated tensions. "Hurt by the dispute, Yadav decided to kill Uday," the officer added.
Background of the Accused and Victim
Singh was posted at a government school in Chilho Khurd, while Yadav worked about 1.5 km away in Dendi. The two were friends before the financial dispute soured their relationship.
Postmortem and Evidence
A postmortem examination at Medinirai Medical College and Hospital revealed multiple wounds inflicted by a pharsa. Police recovered the weapon, Singh's mobile phone, and the motorcycle used in the crime.
About the Author
MF Ahmad covers Palamu and Latehar districts and writes extensively on wildlife and human interest stories.
