Dragged, beaten with sticks & fists: Woman killed over Rs 500 owed by dead husband

RANCHI: Six people have been arrested for allegedly beating a 41-year-old woman to death following a dispute over Rs 500 in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, police said on Saturday.

The incident occurred around midnight on November 11 in Hadimara village, under the jurisdiction of Sonua police station.

The accused were sitting around a fire outside the house of Reena Gope (32), whose husband had recently died, sub-divisional police officer (Chakradharpur) Syed Mustafa Hashmi said in a statement.

The accused were warming themselves after performing the 'Markhi' (post-death ritual) of Reena's husband, Pandu Gope, when the victim, Jinggi Bankira, arrived and allegedly abused them, the officer said.

Bankira was angry because Reena's late husband owed her Rs 500 and had died without repaying the amount, the SDPO said.

Bankira fled and took shelter in an orchard behind her house. However, the accused chased her, found her and dragged her by her hair to the road, where they allegedly attacked her with sticks and fists.

One of the accused, Krishna Gope, allegedly hit her on the head six to seven times with a stick, even after she had fallen to the ground. Bankira died of her injuries, the officer said.

A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following a complaint lodged by the victim's son, Prem Singh Bankira, the next day.

A special police team was constituted to investigate the case and apprehend the accused, Hashmi said.

Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, police arrested Suraj Gope (25), Raghu Gope (19), Gukul Gope alias Langru (26), Reena Gope (32), Madhu Gope alias Koche, all residents of Hadimara village, and Krishna Gope, a resident of the Manoharpur police station area, on Thursday, he said.

Police also recovered blood-stained sticks allegedly used in the crime, soil bearing bloodstains from the spot, a piece of a bangle and a pair of blood-stained jeans belonging to Raghu Gope, the officer added.