Shivpuri, June 17 (IANS) A 40-year-old clinic operator was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district, prompting angry family members and villagers to block a highway and demand immediate arrests, police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in Bhayavan village under Bhauti police station limits on Tuesday evening. The deceased, identified as Prabhan Singh Lodhi, succumbed to injuries at Pichhore Civil Hospital after being allegedly assaulted by a group of people over a dispute linked to a woman.

According to the complaint lodged by his wife, Meena Lodhi, a mob barged into their house while Prabhan Singh was having dinner, dragged him outside and attacked him with sticks, iron rods and stones.

She alleged that when family members attempted to intervene, they were also assaulted.

Police have registered a case against 30 persons, including 15 named accused and 15 unidentified individuals. The named accused include Ramniwas Pal, Devendra Pal, Raju Pal, Balveer Pal, Sudama Pal, Parmeshwardas Pal, Mijaji Pal, Keshpal, Pradeep Pal, Dinesh Pal, Angad Lodhi, Anil Lodhi, Pushpendra Pal, Shaitan Pal and Mohar Singh Pal.

Pichhore SDOP Prashant Sharma said preliminary investigation indicated that the violence stemmed from a dispute involving a woman. The woman, who was married earlier this year, had reportedly approached police after alleging assault by members of her family.

She later expressed her wish to go with Prabhan Lodhi, a move opposed by her relatives. Police said both sides had reached the Bhauti police station earlier on Tuesday and levelled allegations against each other.

After counselling, they were sent back to the village. A few hours later, the attack on Prabhan Lodhi took place.

The victim’s death sparked outrage among relatives and villagers, who gathered outside the police station and staged a blockade on the Shivpuri-Pichhore highway, causing traffic disruption for several hours.

The protesters demanded swift action against all those involved. Senior police officials reached the spot and assured the family that strict action would be taken, following which the blockade was lifted.

Police teams have been deployed to apprehend the accused, while additional security personnel have been stationed in the village to prevent any further tension.

–IANS

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