Overview
- Authorities say the attack was carried out in retaliation for a harassment complaint and left nine-year-old Saras Singh dead and his teenage cousin Shivkumar critically injured.
- Police say the boys were intercepted near Bela (Bella) crossing on Saturday evening as they walked to a paan shop and were beaten with sticks, iron rods and bricks.
- An FIR names Sikandar Sahani and eight others and police have formed multiple teams to trace and arrest the accused, according to Gorakhpur officers.
- Senior officers suspended two local police personnel, including the Pipraich SHO, and tightened security after villagers grew tense following the killing.
- Forensic teams are collecting evidence and reviewing CCTV and witness statements as the probe seeks to establish individual roles and whether the earlier panchayat settlement failed to prevent escalation.