Lucknow: A Holi-related dispute over applying colours turned fatal in Thakurganj and a 30-year-old man was beaten to death with sticks by neighbours.This was the third murder in the city related to Holi, following murder of a 7-year-old child in Mohanlalganj and of a 22-year-old who was stabbed in Dubbaga. Police registered a case against five accused for culpable homicide and assault.The deceased was identified as Ramesh Gautam (30), native of Hardoi. He lived in a rented house in Lalabag locality of Thakurganj, along with his wife Ketki and their young son Ayush. Gautam worked as a daily-wager.According to complaint lodged by Ketki, around 1 pm on Wednesday, she was cooking at home, when her relative Rekha, who lived nearby, came over to apply colour. When Ketki resisted, Rekha began abusing her.Ketki alleged that Rekha called her husband Suraj, brother-in-law Niraj, sister-in-law Chandni and nephew Rajendra to the spot and they arrived armed with sticks and began assaulting her. When Ramesh Gautam rushed to his wife’s defence, the accused attacked him brutally, dealing repeated blows to the head.According to the complaint, the attackers repeatedly struck Gautam on the head with sticks. Severely injured, he collapsed. The accused fled the scene.Neighbours rushed the injured couple to Trauma Centre for treatment. After primary medical care, Ketki was discharged, but Gautam’s condition remained critical and he succumbed late Friday night during treatment.Thakurganj SHO, Omvir Chauhan, said a case was registered against the accused under sections related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, assault and snatching.
