Maharajganj/Lucknow:
In a shocking incident in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh, ten people, including five children and three women, have been burnt to death by the supporters of a village head, who was shot dead this morning.
The village head, Dina Nath Singh, was killed over a land dispute. "He was shot dead by Ayodhya Dubey, Dwarka Dubey, Krishna Murari, Dhirendra Kumar Dubey and others over an old land dispute in Digahi village this morning," Special Director General of Police (law and order) Brij Lal said.
"The supporters of Dina Nath torched houses of Dwarka Dubey and Ayodhya Dubey in which five children, two men and three women died either due to burn injuries or asphyxia," he added.
When the police tried to control the situation, they were prevented from entering the village and local residents pelted stones, officials said.
Police says, Dina Nath along with others purchased a plot of land which was with the Dubey family. While Dina Nath's side wanted possession of the land, Dubey's family refused to part with it.
Four people have been arrested and interrogated, while 40 others have been nabbed for arson.
(
With PTI inputs)