A 30-year-old man was shot dead allegedly by the head of Thanipur village here following a dispute over performing of rituals in a temple, after which locals held protests demanding the arrest of the accused.
Pradhan (village head) Shyam Lal Yadav opened fire from his licenced revolver following a dispute over some rituals in the temple on the occasion of Budwa Mangal Mela, causing serious injuries to Satish Chandra Maurya. He died on way to a hospital in Varanasi, Circle Officer Jitendra Dubey said.
As the news of Maurya's death reached here, villagers protested outside the houses of the village head and his relatives and indulged in brickbatting and arson.
A motorcycle was set on fire and two cars were damaged, the CO said.
The protesters also jammed the traffic on the highway and a heavy contingent of police force was rushed to control the situation, he said.
They were demanding immediate arrest of the pradhan who fled the scene after the crime, he added.
