The search is underway to find two other defendants in the case, police said. (Representative)
Amethi:
The husband of a village chief in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, was reportedly burned alive and died on his way to hospital, with his family claiming he was killed because of a electoral rivalry, police said.
The man’s family filed a complaint against five people, three of whom were arrested.
Arjun Kori, 45, husband of Bhadoiya village chief Chhotka Devi, was found with severe burns on Thursday evening. He died while being taken to a hospital in Lucknow for treatment this morning, police said.
His son Surendra Kumar said Arjun Kori went to the market to buy vegetables on Thursday evening but did not return home.
He was later found badly burnt on property owned by a Krishna Kumar Tiwari.
Surendra Kumar said his father had a solid base in the region, which confused his opponents. He was killed because of an electoral rivalry, Kumar said.
The man’s son claimed that his father took the names of four people, who stuck a piece of cloth in his mouth and set him on fire after beating him.
Police Commissioner Dinesh Singh said the incident was reported on Thursday evening and Arjun Kori was admitted to a hospital in Amethi.
He died while being taken to a hospital in Lucknow on Friday morning, he said.
On complaint from the family, a case was registered. Three of the defendants, including Krishna Kumar Tiwari, were arrested while searches are underway to find the other two, district magistrate Arun Kumar and official Dinesh Singh said.
The necessary financial assistance is extended to the family, they said.
Police said there were reports that a minor was also among the five named by the family and that investigations were underway.
