Body of 28-year-old found; Madhepura villagers go on rampage

MADHEPURA: Recovery of the body of a missing local youth Pappu Swarnakar (28), sparked off violent protests at Rampur village under the Murliganj police station area of the district on Saturday.
Irate villagers not only blocked NH-107 near Rampur village under the Murliganj police station area for hours but also set houses and bikes on fire of the suspected accused.
The blockade continued till late evening which was lifted after the intervention of senior police officers.
Manoj Swarnakar, a cousin of the slain youth said, “Pappu worked as an employee of a local jewellery dealer Deepak Kumar, son of Ramchandra Yadav, who used to sell gold and silver made ornaments to local retailers. Few days back while returning home, the victim was robbed of some ornaments near Jorgama village. The incident was informed to the dealer but he did not lodge any complaint with the police and started mounting pressure on Pappu to pay the price of the jewellery lost.”
Deepak also forcibly took away Pappu’s bike to his house and publicly threatened him of dire consequences only four day back. On Tuesday, Pappu was called by Deepak at his house from where he did not return even the next day. His family members inquired Deepak about his whereabouts who also pretended to be unaware of it.
Some women farmers located the decomposed body of the victim in a nearby bamboo bust in the village on Saturday and informed other villagers. The information spread like wild fire and soon villagers thronged the spot.
On seeing Pappu’s body, they grew angry and vandalized properties of Deepak and subsequently blocked the road.
“One person has been arrested in this connection so far,” said Murliganj PS SHO Akhilesh Kumar.