The Tribune, January 2, 2003

Arrested man not murderer: villagers
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, January 1
Death of Mr Ram Kishan, Sarpanch of Jandli Khurd village took a new turn today when hundreds of villagers met SP K.K. Rao and described the death due to an accident. The sarpanch, died on Saturday and his body was recovered from a well. The police had booked Ashok Kumar, of Chandrawal village and six others in the case as the kin of the deceased had alleged it a murder due to enmity. People from Jandli Khurd had organised a demonstration in front of the local mini secretariat on Monday demanding the arrest of the accused. The police arrested Ashok Kumar and another accused in this connection. Villagers of Chandrawal and surrounding villages today met the SP and demanded a thorough probe into the case as according to them Ashok had not killed the sarpanch. The villagers were led by Zila Parishad vice-president, Mr Maha Singh and included a number of sarpanches of this area. They said that though Ashok Kumar and the victim had drinks together and an altercation there-after. The victim was not murdered by Ashok. They said that Ram Kishan tried to run away in an inebriated condition after the altercation and fell into the well in the process. They said that Ashok and his accomplices were so frightened that they ran away instead of bringing the matter to the notice of the police. The SP assured them of a thorough probe.