Man found dead in Chamba village, kin gherao police station alleging murder

Tension gripped the Saho area of Chamba district on Saturday after a 36-year-old man was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Chhameri village of Barour panchayat. The deceased has been identified as Sonu Kumar of Chhameri village.

Family members and villagers rejected claims that Sonu died after an accidental fall and alleged he was murdered. The deceased’s brother, Bholu Singh, suspected a few individuals of a neighbouring village to be behind Sonu’s death. He said that Sonu had parked his vehicle on Friday evening and was walking home when the incident occurred.

According to the bereaved family, Sonu’s mobile phone was found nearly 20 metres away from the spot where he was found. He was taken to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba, but doctors there declared him brought dead.

After a post-mortem examination, the agitated family members and villagers refused to take the body and assembled in front of the police station in Chamba.

Bholu alleged that Sonu’s active role in the construction of a village road may have led to his death. He claimed that some residents of a nearby village were opposing the road project, asserting ownership over land which, according to revenue records, was government property. Sonu, along with other villagers, had been at the forefront of efforts to ensure the road was constructed.

As the situation escalated, SDM Priyanshu Khati and Additional SP Dinesh Kumar reached the spot and assured the family of a thorough probe and strict action against the guilty. The protesters dispersed following the assurances and agreed to take the body for cremation.