Shahjahanpur (UP), Aug 4 (PTI) A woman and several other youths have come under the police scanner in connection with the murder of a Hindu man allegedly stabbed to death by his friend in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district, with four accused arrested so far, police said on Tuesday.
The case pertains to the killing of Gautam Maurya in Kant town on the night of July 31. The main accused, Sameer Ali, had earlier confessed to the murder in a purported video that went viral on social media.
The incident had triggered tension in the area, with the victim’s family and villagers holding an eight-hour blockade on the Palia-Jalalabad highway the following day. During the protest, some people allegedly attempted to target shops belonging to members of another community, but police prevented any violence.
Police sources said examination of Sameer Ali’s mobile phone revealed that he had been in regular contact with a local girl and had spoken to her shortly before the murder.
“The call recordings recovered from the phone suggest that the girl was aware of the conspiracy,” a police source said.
According to the investigation, the victim and the accused were friends. The victim was earlier in a relationship with the girl. After their relationship ended, the girl allegedly became close to Sameer Ali, leading to hostility between the two men, the police sources said.
The police also found that the accused had allegedly posted before the incident an Instagram status saying “will kill on August 5, 2026”, and another post reading “killed him” after the murder, the sources said.
The investigation has further revealed that the accused had allegedly been looking for an opportunity to kill Maurya for some time, while another youth had been trying to prevent the dispute from escalating, they said.
Superintendent of Police Saurabh Dixit told PTI that Sameer Ali has been arrested and sent to jail. Besides him, Liaqat Ali, Tadeem and Raja have also been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
“We have constituted three teams to carry out a detailed investigation into the case. Anyone found involved during the probe will face strict legal action,” Dixit said.
He said the town remained peaceful but the police and the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel had been deployed as a precaution, with heightened surveillance in sensitive areas. PTI COR KIS KSS KSS
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