A volatile situation unfolded on Sunday evening in the Maharajpur police station area of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, following the tragic death of a woman. After the completion of the post-mortem examination, the deceased woman's maternal relatives were transporting her body back home when a heated dispute broke out with members of her in-laws' family. Fuelled by this confrontation, the grieving relatives and local residents placed the body directly on the Kanpur-Prayagraj highway, effectively sealing off all vehicular movement and causing massive traffic gridlocks on both sides of the road.
Highway Blockade and Sudden Violence
Upon receiving alerts about the road blockade, a local police team rushed to the scene to negotiate with the demonstrators and persuade them to clear the highway. Officers attempted to reason with the crowd to restore normal traffic flow. However, the situation quickly escalated into verbal altercations and hostility. Without warning, elements within the agitated crowd began hurling stones and bricks at the police personnel. The sudden assault triggered widespread panic and chaos, resulting in injuries to three police officers, including two inspectors, during the melee.
Background and Domestic Tragedies
The unrest stemmed from the death of 32-year-old Mala, a resident of Shekhpur village, who had been married to Munna Nishad of Lalupur village for approximately eight years. The couple shared two children. According to her family members, Mala had fallen ill on Saturday, and a relative named Shani had taken her for medication before dropping her back at her husband's home around 3 PM. Roughly an hour later, her husband allegedly contacted the family to report that she had hanged herself. Upon arriving at the matrimonial home, her relatives discovered her body hanging inside. Police and forensic teams subsequently inspected the site and sent the body for an autopsy.
Police Reinforcements and Lathi-Charge
Tensions flared on Sunday evening when the maternal family, aggrieved by what they claimed was a lack of legal action against the in-laws, brought the body to the highway to stage a protest. Following the attack on the police team, senior officials including Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Shiva Singh and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ashutosh Singh arrived at the location accompanied by reinforcements from four police stations and a contingent of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC). Facing an increasingly unmanageable mob, law enforcement authorities resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, clear the highway, and successfully restore vehicular movement.
Official Stance and Detentions
DCP East Satyajit Gupta stated that several individuals among the demonstrators, both men and women, were under the influence of alcohol during the protest. He confirmed that the mob resorted to pelting stones at the police party, injuring two to three officers. All injured personnel were immediately transported to Kanshiram Hospital for medical treatment and were subsequently discharged after receiving care. Police have taken five individuals into custody from the spot. A formal case has been registered based on a complaint lodged by the family, and authorities are currently identifying other culprits involved in the highway blockade and the assault on law enforcement.
