Youth found murdered, kin protest on Lucknow-Allahabad highway

ALLAHABAD: Traffic on the Lucknow-Allahabad highway remained disrupted for hours on Monday after family members of youth, who was found murdered, blocked the road by protesting along with the body to seek justice.
The body of the 27-year-old youth, identified as Ved Prakash Pandey, was found near Gopalganj railway station. A resident of Baanpur, the victim had been preparing for competitive examinations.
Pandey’s family said he had left home early morning after receiving a call on his phone.
Police said the youth was shot at point blank range and a case was registered under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons.
SP (crime) Ashutosh Mishra said that the youth’s motorcycle was found near the body. “We have formed two police teams to crack the case,” he added.
Police said his family did not know much about Pandey’s friend circle and he had left home in the morning without informing any of them.
Angry over the sudden death of the youth, Pandey’s family members staged a dharna on the road with his body demanding immediate arrest of his killers.
The demonstration led to vehicles queuing up on both sides of the highway.
Pandey’s family agreed to end the protest only after senior police officials assured them that they would work out the case within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, commuters travelling on the highway were annoyed for being stuck in a traffic snarl.
“I had to reach Lucknow early, but I wasted over two hours being stuck in the jam. Before senior police official convinced the family to call of the protest, there was no traffic personnel present at the spot to regulate vehicular movement,” said Pankaj one of the commuters who was caught in the snarl.