Ramgarh: A Jharkhand Administrative Service (JAS) officer, posted as a sub-registrar in Giridih district, was allegedly beaten to death by a group of people over a land dispute at his ancestral village in Mandu police station limits of the district on Tuesday.The deceased Baleshwar Patel, 53, had arrived at Balsagra village on leave recently. On Tuesday, he went alone to inspect a plot of land which he had purchased from a local family. Members of another group from the seller’s family objected to his visit and claimed ownership of the same land, leading to a heated argument. The incident took place around 9 am.Describing the incident as unfortunate, Ramgarh SP Mukesh Kumar Lunayat said Patel was attacked with lathis and bricks on his head and other parts of the body. He sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to a hospital in Ramgarh, where he succumbed to his injuries.Police sent Patel’s body for postmortem examination. Six persons have been detained for interrogation in connection with the case, and an investigation has been initiated. Officials said the role of each detainee, the sequence of assault and the ownership papers are being verified by investigators.Ramgarh sub-divisional police officer Alok Ranjan said, “An investigation into the issue has been initiated and we would enquire into all possible angles.” Police personnel have been deployed in Balsagra to prevent further clashes or retaliatory violence over the land dispute. An FIR was yet to be registered till the evening.
