Darbhanga hacking a case of land dispute; not connected with Modi: Police

A 70-year-old man was beheaded in Bihar's Darbhanga over a property dispute, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said on Friday, denying that he was attacked because he had had named a town square "Narendra Modi chowk," as his family had alleged.

"Totally false that the murder in Darbhanga case was due to naming Modi Chowk. It was a case  of land dispute. The board was put long back, murder has nothing to do with board," Sushil Modi tweeted on Friday night.

In a shocking incident, a person was attacked by 40-50 men on bikes and killed in Bihar's Darbhanga district. The Bihar police also said that it was due to an old land dispute and had no connection with naming of chowk.

"It was due to an old land dispute and has no connection with naming of chowk, they named their private land as Narendra Modi Chowk. Batons were used to injure the deceased's son. There is no tension in the village," Satya Veer Singh, SSP on killing of man in Darbhanga.

Naraya, who is a BJP chief from Behala Panchayat, alleged that some bike-brone assailants beheaded his father near Sadar Police Station area.

"Around 40-50 men came on 25-30 bikes with hockey sticks and swords. My father went to them to explain the situation over naming the chowk after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but was beheaded," son of 70-year-old man who was beheaded told ANI.

Narayan claimed that some people were unhappy over his initiative to name a local chowk after PM Modi in 2016. "They wanted the thoroughfare to be named after RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. My father tried to broker peace, but he was murdered.

"They also tried to kill my brother," victim's son added.

Meanwhile, the police said that they have arrested the culprits and recorded the statements of all the witnesses.

"We reached the spot of the incident immediately and have arrested the culprits by night. We have also recorded the statements of all the witnesses," Darbhanga, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Dilnvaj Ahamad told ANI.

"In the brother's case we have recorded his statement and our investigating the matter," Ahamad added.

Top 10 developments

1. An old land dispute case

"It was due to an old land dispute and has no connection with naming of chowk, they named their private land as Narendra Modi Chowk. Batons were used to injure the deceased's son. There is no tension in the village," Satya Veer Singh, SSP on killing of man in Darbhanga.

2. Bihar leaders to visit victim's family

With tension prevailing in the area, top leaders of Bihar's prominent political parties including Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Nityanand Rai, will arrive in Darbhanga to meet the family of the victim.

3) BJP supporters staged demonstrations in Darbhanga, demanding the arrest of those involved in the murder.

4) Sushil Modi calls it case of land dispute

Totally false that murder in Darbhanga was because of naming Modi chowk. Case of land dispute. Board was put long back, Murder has nothing to do with Board.

5) We reached the spot of the incident immediately & had arrested the culprits by night. We have recorded the statements of all the witnesses. In the brother's case we have recorded his statement and our investigating the matter: Dilnvaj Ahamad, DSP.

6) Twitter demands Nitish Kumar's intervention, condemns attack

7) Kirti Azad to BJP: Don't polarize the issue

Disgruntled BJP leader Kirti Azad told BJP not to polarize the issue. This is what he tweeted:

8).  According to the SHO, Tej runs a tea stall at Bhadwa Chowk. He had put up a board at the intersection, announcing its renaming as Modi Chowk in 2016.

9) Earlier on Friday, BJP MP Gopal Narayan Singh said that Kishanganj, Katihar, and Araria districts of Bihar are slowly turning into 'Pakistan'. "We have been raising this issue since long that Kishanganj, Katihar and Araria districts of Bihar are slowly turning into Pakistan, but Government's inaction and vote bank-politics has pushed Bihar towards the brim of destruction," Singh told ANI.

10) Giriraj Singh calls out to 'Award wapsi brigade'

Union Minister Giriraj Singh called out to 'award wapsi champions' to speak out against the killing of BJP worker's father in Darbhanga.

On Thursday, he had said Araria will soon become a "terror hub".

"It was due to an old land dispute and has no connection with naming of chowk, they named their private land as Narendra Modi Chowk. Batons were used to injure the deceased's son. There is no tension in the village," Satya Veer Singh, SSP on killing of man in Darbhanga.