In Amethi village, panchayat chief's husband burnt alive over political rivalry

Amethi: A village head's husband died from burns in Amethi on Friday, with his family claiming that he was killed over electoral rivalry, police said. The victim's family lodged a complaint against five people, of which three have been arrested.

Arjun Kori (45), husband of Bhadoiya village head Chhotka Devi, was found with serious burns on Thursday night. He died while being taken to a Lucknow hospital for treatment on Friday morning, police said.

His son Surendra Kumar told reporters that Kori had gone to a market to purchase vegetables on Thursday evening but did not return home.

Later, he was found with serious burns at a property belonging to one Krishna Kumar Tiwari.

Surendra said his father had a strong base in the area, which had perturbed his opponents. He has been killed over electoral rivalry, Kumar alleged.

The victim's son claimed that his father had taken names of four people, who stuffed a piece of cloth into his mouth and set him on fire after beating him up. SP Dinesh Singh said the incident was reported late in the night and Kori was admitted to a hospital.

He died while he was being taken to a Lucknow hospital on Friday morning, he said.

On the complaint of the family against five people, an FIR was registered. Three of the accused, including Tiwari, have been arrested while the hunt is on to nab the remaining two, District Magistrate Arun Kumar and SP Singh said in a joint press conference.

Necessary financial help is being extended to the family, they said. The SP said there are reports that a minor is also among the five named by the family and investigations are on in this connection.