In a sensational incident, a farmer was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Muzaffarnagar late on Saturday night. On being informed, the kin of the deceased and local villagers reached the spot and blocked the Meerut-Shamli road by placing the body there. They demanded the arrest of the killers. The police also reached the place and assured the protesters that the accused would be arrested soon. The protesters lifted the blockade after which the body was sent for autopsy.

Reports said that 43-year-old farmer Satendra alias Pappu, who was a resident of village Fugana under Fugana police station area of Muzaffarnagar, had gone to the field late on Saturday night. When Satendra did not return home, his family members went out to search for him. In the meantime, they were informed that Satendra had been shot dead. 

SP (Rural) Atul Kumar Srivastava pacified the protesters by assuring them that the accused would be arrested soon. The police registered a case on the complaint of Satendra’s family and took two people into custody.

Satendra’s elder brother said he got information about the incident and by the time he reached the scene, Satendra had already succumbed.

According to the SP, the family members suspected that Satendra might have been killed over enmity with some local villagers.

Meanwhile, a boy was fatally knocked down by a truck near Bairauna village of Khukhundu police station area in Deoria on Saturday evening.

Irate over the incident, the villagers set fire to the truck. The villagers then created a ruckus, placing the body on the road. There was also a scuffle between the police and villagers. Anuj Kumar (3), who was the son of Radheshyam Rajbhar, a resident of Bairauna village of the area, was playing near his house on Saturday evening when he was crushed under the wheels of the truck which was backing off.

The errant driver fled the scene, abandoning the truck. The kin of the deceased and villagers reached the spot and set the truck on fire. They also held a road blockade in protest.