Bilaspur: BA student hacked to death after intervening in dispute over girl; 5 held

A 22-year-old youth was brutally murdered in the Sarkanda area of Bilaspur late Saturday night after he attempted to rescue his cousin from a group of attackers. The deceased, identified as a BA second-year student, was reportedly slashed across the neck with a sharp-edged weapon.

In a chilling incident reported from the Mopka locality under the Sarkanda police station limits, a young college student lost his life while trying to shield his younger brother from a violent assault. The victim, Abhishek Yadav, was killed on the spot after his throat was slit with a ‘chapar’ (meat cleaver) during a heated confrontation involving a dispute over a friendship with a local girl.

Late-night confrontation turns fatal

The violence broke out late Saturday night when Abhishek’s cousin, 16-year-old Omprakash Yadav, was intercepted by a group of local youths. Sources indicate that Omprakash had been in a running dispute with one Ashish Suryavanshi regarding his association with a girl in the neighborhood.

What started as a verbal spat on Friday escalated into a physical face-off by Saturday. As the group began thrashing Omprakash, Abhishek rushed to the scene to intervene. In the ensuing scuffle, the primary accused allegedly pulled out a weapon concealed in his waistband and struck Abhishek’s neck.

Chaos at the crime scene

Ground reports suggest the attack was sudden and left no time for the victims to retreat. Abhishek collapsed immediately due to heavy blood loss. Local residents and friends who reached the spot shortly after the incident rushed both brothers to Apollo Hospital.

While Omprakash is currently undergoing treatment for injuries sustained during the beating, doctors declared Abhishek dead on arrival. Bloodstains and a pair of slippers belonging to the victim remained at the site on Sunday morning as forensic teams conducted their preliminary investigation.

Angry locals surround police station

As news of the murder spread through Mopka, tension gripped the area. On Sunday, a large crowd comprising family members and local residents gathered outside the Sarkanda police station.

Nearly 60 people staged a protest, demanding immediate and "strictest possible action" against the culprits. The protesters refused to leave until senior officials assured them of a fast-track investigation. The heavy police presence remained deployed in the area to prevent any further flare-up of communal or local tensions.

Five suspects taken into custody

Following the outcry, Bilaspur police launched a swift manhunt. By Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed the arrest of five individuals in connection with the homicide. Among those detained are three brothers—Ashish Suryavanshi (22), Mahavir Suryavanshi (23), and Raghuvir Suryavanshi (26).

"The accused are originally residents of Selar village in the Sipat area but were currently living in a rented accommodation in Mopka," a police official familiar with the probe stated. Two minors have also been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the assault.

Escalating youth violence in Bilaspur

The incident has once again brought the issue of blade-related violence among youth to the forefront in Bilaspur. Local community leaders expressed concern over how a minor dispute over a conversation could lead to a daylight murder.

The police have recovered the weapon used in the crime and are currently recording statements from Omprakash, who is the primary witness to his brother’s killing. Further interrogation of the arrested suspects is underway to determine if the attack was premeditated or a result of sudden provocation.