August 6, 2025

In an alarming incident from Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, a newly married 22-year-old named Hriday Lal was allegedly beaten to death over a dispute concerning a ₹200 loan. The incident has led to widespread outrage and protests from his family, who displayed his body on the Gonda-Lucknow highway as a form of demonstration against the brutal circumstances of his death. Police reported that a case has been registered against 27 individuals, including 15 unidentified persons, for their roles in blocking the national highway and showing 'inhumane behavior' towards the deceased's body during the protest. The dispute originated on August 1, when Hriday Lal, a mason from Laxmanpur Jaat village, sought repayment of ₹200 from a fellow villager, Ram Anuj, to whom he had lent ₹700. Tensions escalated into violence, resulting in Hriday Lal allegedly being attacked with sticks by Ram Anuj and his family members, including his brother, son, and nephews. After the incident, Lal was rushed to Lucknow for medical treatment but sadly succumbed to his injuries on Monday. In a desperate bid to bring attention to the injustice faced by their family, Lal’s family attempted to block the highway with his body when the ambulance returned from the hospital. The police intervened with personnel from four local police stations to clear the blockade, insisting that the body be transported directly back to the village. Initially, the family was resolute in their demand for justice, refusing to conduct the last rites until the authorities responded to their calls for stern action against the accused. Eventually, under police supervision, the cremation took place late Monday night. Superintendent of Police Vineet Jaiswal commented on the urgency of the situation, noting that the incident turned violent soon after Lal was attacked four days prior, and the situation became more tense upon returning the body. Around 50-60 protesters gathered near the highway in anticipation, ready to stage a protest when the ambulance arrived. When the ambulance reached, police requested the family to keep the body inside the vehicle and go directly home. However, the family bypassed these instructions, taking the body out and laying it on the road, a move that was recorded and subsequently went viral on social media. The case against the accused includes serious charges related to public order disruption and the inhumane handling of the corpse. The police are actively identifying other individuals involved in the protest through the circulated video footage. Legal proceedings are being set in motion against those who have been identified participating in these unlawful activities, and the police are prepared to take strict action against any disturbances to law and order. The community remains shaken as they process this tragic incident, especially considering Hriday Lal had just recently tied the knot a month prior to this violent confrontation. As more details emerge, the police assured that justice would be served, and the family’s demand for accountability would be taken seriously. Authorities have also deployed extra police personnel in the village to manage the tense situation and prevent further unrest as investigations continue into the motive and circumstances surrounding the case.

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Tags: Loan dispute, Murder, Protests, Gonda, Uttar pradesh,