Sonbhadra, Jul 17 (IBNS): At least nine people including three women were shot dead over land dispute in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district, media reports said.
The shootout left 19 others injured.
The police have arrested five people in connection with the case.
The incident took place in the Ubha village where a village chief, identified as Yagya Dutt, had purchased 36 acres of agricultural land two years ago.
According to reports, on Wednesday the landowner was supposed to take possession of the land.
However, the villagers started opposing the same and it was then his associates opened fire at them.
"It is an incident in the remote area in Ghorawal, village Ubha. The pradhan purchased 90 bigha (36 acres) land two years ago. Today he went with some of his allies to take possession (of the land). Local villagers opposed. As a result, they (village chief's men) opened fire causing death of nine villagers, including three women,"a senior police officer told NDTV.
"The pradhan (village) brought along many people in tractors and started ploughing his land. The villagers started opposing it. At this point, he and his men started firing indiscriminately at the villagers," Salmantaj Patil, the police chief of Sonbhadra, said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has sent his condolence to the families of the victims and directed the district magistrate to provide immediate medical attention to the injured.
He has also ordered for proper enquiry into the case so that the culprits are punished.
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