A 31-year-old man died after being allegedly assaulted over a Rs 10 dispute in Nawada district, sparking tension and protests in the Nardiganj police station area on Thursday. Angry locals blocked roads and set fires, disrupting traffic for several hours. A heavy police deployment was made to control the situation in the area.
Victim Identified
The deceased was identified as Deepu Kumar, a resident of Nichli Bazar. He was attacked on Tuesday night when he went to buy household items at a grocery shop owned by Mohammad Arman. Deepu succumbed to injuries during treatment at Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) late Wednesday night.
Dispute Escalation
Nardiganj Station House Officer (SHO) Rajesh Kumar said, “The dispute began over a payment disagreement. Deepu claimed he had handed over Rs 20, while the shopkeeper insisted it was Rs 10. The argument escalated, and Arman allegedly struck Deepu with a heavy iron object. Deepu collapsed and was rushed to Patna in critical condition, where he later died.”
Protests and Police Action
Following the death, protests erupted in the area, with locals demanding action. Nawada Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinav Dhiman visited the spot and held a peace committee meeting with residents. Sadar Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Amit Anuraj and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rahul Singh were monitoring the situation, while a large police force remained deployed.
Deepu was the sole breadwinner of his family and is survived by his wife and six children.
Legal Proceedings
Police said an FIR has been registered against seven named accused, three of whom have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab the remaining suspects.
