Hazaribagh: A late-night altercation over playing music escalated into a deadly assault in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh, leading to the murder of a 30-year-old man, police said on Friday.
The incident took place around 9 p.m. on January 1 at Indrapuri Chowk, one of the busy localities of the city. The victim has been identified as Suraj Kumar Rana, a resident of Madai Khurd, who earned his livelihood as a tiles and marble mason.
According to family members and eyewitnesses, a group of youths returning from a picnic got into an argument over music, which soon turned violent. During the altercation, Suraj was allegedly dragged to an area near the Red Cross building and severely assaulted.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers beat him mercilessly and dragged him towards Lal Kothi Chowk, where he was allegedly attacked with a sword, leaving him critically injured.
Local residents, hearing the commotion, alerted the police. The victim was rushed to Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at around 11 p.m.
The incident triggered panic and tension in Indrapuri Chowk and surrounding areas, with large crowds gathering at the crime scene and the hospital. Police have secured the area, collected evidence, and sent the body for post-mortem examination.
Preliminary investigations suggest the murder stemmed from a personal dispute, though police said all possible angles are being examined. Several suspects have been detained for questioning, and raids are underway to arrest those involved. Additional police forces have been deployed to maintain law and order.
Suraj, who got married five years ago, was the sole breadwinner of his family. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
With inputs from IANS