GORAKHPUR: A 52-year-old man was hacked to death in a Gorakhpur village, with police suspecting that the murder was linked to the killing of a relative of the accused last year, police said on Sunday.The victim, Shivkumar Tripathi, was attending a ‘brahm bhoj’ (funeral feast) in Ahirauli village under the Sikriganj police station area on Saturday evening when he was allegedly attacked from behind with a ‘banka’ (cleaver) by Rahul Chaudhary, a fellow villager.According to eyewitnesses, Tripathi suffered serious injuries and collapsed at the spot. Villagers put him in an autorickshaw and tried to take him to hospital.However, police said Rahul and his brother Rohit allegedly stopped the vehicle on the way. Despite attempts by locals to intervene, the two brothers allegedly pulled Tripathi out and dragged him for around 200 metres before repeatedly attacking him with swords. He died at the spot.The preliminary investigation suggests that the attack may have been carried out to avenge the murder of Rahul’s cousin about a year ago, police said.According to villagers, Rahul’s cousin Adesh Chaudhary was killed in 2024, and some members of Tripathi’s extended family were named as accused in that case. Investigators are now looking into whether Saturday’s murder was linked to the earlier killing.Superintendent of Police (South) Dinesh Kumar Puri said on Sunday that a case had been registered in connection with the murder. Three named accused and seven others have been detained for questioning.Police are investigating the exact motive and the involvement of others in the attack.Tripathi worked as a contractor with the electricity department. His son, Aditya Tripathi, is an advocate practising at the Gorakhpur civil court.The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination.
