Tension gripped Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district on Wednesday after the body of a missing youth was recovered from the Bihad river, prompting protests by family members and local residents. The deceased, identified as Lal alias Ritesh Choudhary, had reportedly been missing for the past few days following an alleged assault incident. The situation escalated when angry protesters carrying the body attempted to block a road demanding immediate arrest of the accused. Police later intervened and conducted the funeral under tight security.

Body Found In River

According to officials, the body of Ritesh Choudhary was found on Tuesday in the Bihad river near Karahiya area. Local residents spotted the body floating in the river and informed police authorities. Family members alleged that the youth had been assaulted three days earlier and claimed he was murdered before being thrown into the river. The recovery of the body triggered outrage among relatives and local residents, turning the Rewa youth death case into a major public interest story in the region.

Protest Outside Hospital

After the postmortem on Wednesday, family members and supporters carried the body from the hospital to the Amahiya road area and attempted to stage a road blockade. A large crowd gathered at the protest site demanding immediate arrest of those allegedly involved in the incident. Traffic movement in the area was partially affected as tensions continued for several hours. Police officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the growing unrest.

Police Rush To Spot

City Kotwali police station in-charge Nisha Mishra and Saman police station in-charge Vijay Singh reached the location along with additional police personnel to control the situation. Officials held discussions with family members and protesters and assured them that action would be taken after investigation and postmortem findings. Authorities continued to monitor the crowd closely as the atmosphere remained tense throughout the protest.

Crowd Turns Violent

The situation worsened during the protest when a local youth allegedly referred to the deceased as a “criminal” in front of the crowd. The remark triggered anger among those present, following which several people allegedly assaulted the youth. Eyewitnesses said the crowd attacked him before police personnel intervened. Police officers immediately rescued the youth from the mob and shifted him to a safer location to prevent further violence.

Missing After Dispute

According to preliminary police information, a dispute and physical altercation had taken place two days earlier in Nipania locality under City Kotwali police station limits. During the incident, Ritesh Choudhary, a resident of Amahiya area, reportedly went missing under suspicious circumstances. Family members had been searching for him continuously before his body was recovered from the river on Tuesday.

Injury Marks Raise Suspicion

Sources indicated that multiple injury marks were found on the deceased’s body, strengthening the family’s suspicion of murder. Relatives have demanded strict action against the accused and a detailed investigation into the circumstances leading to the youth’s death. Police said the body had been sent for postmortem examination and further action would depend on medical findings and evidence collected during the probe.

After prolonged discussions and assurances from police officials, family members agreed to proceed with the final rites. The body was later taken to the cremation ground under heavy police deployment to avoid any untoward incident. Authorities confirmed that the funeral was conducted under police supervision due to the tense atmosphere in the area. Officials said investigation into the Rewa youth death case remains underway and statements from witnesses and individuals linked to the earlier dispute are being recorded.