Shopkeeper Beaten to Death Over Due Payment in UP’s Ballia

A Dalit shopkeeper was allegedly beaten to death in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district by a customer.

(Photo: iStock)

A Dalit shopkeeper was allegedly beaten to death in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district by a customer and his accomplices after an argument over a payment, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred at Naini village, under Sahatwar police station, area on Sunday, the police said.

The accused, Amit Singh, went to the shop of Shobhnath Paswan, 30, near Deeh Baba area in the morning and asked for a few items. When Paswan asked Singh to pay, a heated exchange took place between the two and Singh was beaten up, according to an officer.

Later, Singh, who is from the same village, returned to the shop with four others and thrashed Paswan again. The shopkeeper sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital in Varanasi, where he died during treatment, the officer said.

A case has been registered and a search for the accused is on, the police added.