AGRA: A 32-year-old man,
Jackie Baghel
, who worked as a driver, was thrashed to death by his
neighbours
on Sunday evening for objecting to hostile behaviour of their
pet dog
, police said. The dog (local breed) had attacked Baghel a fortnight ago and he had alleged that despite this, the neighbours kept the pet unchained. The incident took place in Nagla Haveli area under New Agra limits.
DCP (city), Agra, Suraj Rai, said on Monday, “Four people, including main accused
Rakesh Singh
and his brother Anil, were arrested and will be sent to jail. Efforts are on to arrest the remaining three accused who are absconding. The victim’s body was handed over to his family after a post-mortem. The situation is under control.”
Following Baghel’s death, a clash broke out between his family members and the neighbours who fled after police arrived at the scene. A PAC was later deployed as a precautionary measure. The victim’s family staged a protest by placing the body outside New Agra police station.
Baghel’s family said the neighbours’ dog had turned hostile a month ago and the pet would often “target” passersby. “He went to raise the matter with the owners. But, Rakesh Singh alias Boxer, started abusing him. Following an argument, Singh and his kin beat him with sticks and rods. We later found him in a pool of blood. He died on the way to hospital,” said Baghel’s cousin Kuldeep Singh.
He added: “Fifteen days ago, the dog had attacked Baghel, and he somehow managed to escape. We then requested the owners to chain the pet for public safety. But Singh and his elder brother Anil misbehaved with us and blamed my cousin for provoking their dog.”
An FIR was registered against seven people under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 504 (intentional insult) and 302 (murder) on the basis of the complaint filed by the victim’s family on Sunday. Police also found CCTV footage showing the accused neighbours with sticks and iron rods.