A 30-year-old man died after allegedly being brutally assaulted with iron rods by a father and son in Chhattisgarh's Balod district, with police claiming the attack stemmed from a years-old rivalry between the two families. The victim succumbed to his injuries nearly 18 hours after the assault while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Raipur.

The incident occurred in Khaira village under the Deori police station limits. The deceased, Hitesh Sinha (30), reportedly sustained more than 20 fractures during the attack. Police have arrested the two accused—Hiraman Sinha (51) and his son Kamendra Sinha (26)—and sent them to judicial custody.

Attack Followed Alleged Deliberate Collision

According to the police, the assault took place on the evening of July 28 when Hitesh was travelling on a motorcycle with his relative Gaurav Sinha and another villager, Prakash Nishad.

The complainant alleged that as they reached a stretch near a pond in Khaira village, the accused intercepted them on another motorcycle. Kamendra allegedly rammed their bike, causing all three riders to fall onto the road.

Police said the father and son then attacked Hitesh with iron pipes, repeatedly targeting his arms and legs before continuing the assault even after he collapsed.

Victim Suffered Multiple Fractures

Investigators said Hitesh was initially rushed to Deori Hospital before being referred to a medical facility in Raipur due to the severity of his injuries.

Despite treatment, he died approximately 18 hours later. Preliminary medical findings indicated that he had suffered more than 20 fractures across his body, reflecting the intensity of the assault.

Following his death, police upgraded the case from attempt to murder to murder under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Old Rivalry Under Investigation

Police said both families had been involved in disputes since 2022, with multiple complaints and FIRs registered against each other over the past few years.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly claimed they became enraged after seeing Hitesh twirl his moustache and gesture by running his hand across his throat, which they interpreted as a threat.

The accused also alleged that the victim had earlier damaged crops by spraying herbicide in their fields, further aggravating the long-standing conflict. Police said these claims are part of the investigation and are being verified independently.

Relative Alleges Public Did Not Intervene

In his complaint, Gaurav Sinha said the accused continued beating Hitesh for nearly 20 minutes despite repeated pleas for help.

He alleged that when he attempted to intervene, he was also attacked with an iron pipe, sustaining injuries to his leg. He further claimed that bystanders present near the scene did not step in during the assault.

Police reached the spot after receiving information through the emergency response system and shifted the injured men to hospital.

Police Arrest Both Accused

Deori Police Station in-charge Manish Shende said an FIR was initially registered under provisions relating to attempt to murder. Following Hitesh's death during treatment, murder charges under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were added.

Both accused were arrested, produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody.

Investigators are continuing to examine the background of the dispute, previous criminal complaints involving both parties and the sequence of events that led to the fatal attack.

The incident has once again highlighted how unresolved personal rivalries in rural areas can escalate into fatal violence, with police urging residents to seek legal remedies instead of resorting to retaliation.