Ballia,

2 January (H.S.): On the first night of the New Year, two young men were brutally

killed with sharp-edged weapons inside a beer shop in Ballia village near the

Bihar border in Uttar Pradesh, according to officials.

The tragedy sparked

demonstrations by families and villages, who momentarily blocked the national highway

route to demand justice.

According

to police, the victims, 23-year-old Prashant Gupta and 24-year-old Golu Verma,

were at a licensed alcohol shop in Kotwa Narayanpur village on Wednesday night

when an argument and violent brawl erupted.

During the struggle, intruders

struck both youngsters with sharp instruments, including an axe, murdering them.

Outraged by the killings, the victims' relatives and locals piled the

remains on the national highway, obstructing the Ghazipur-Bharauli route.

Protestors raised slogans against

the police, causing huge lineups of motorists on both sides

the road. Senior police officers, including Superintendent of Police (SP) Omvir

Singh, arrived the scene and pacified protesters following conversations,

resulting to blockage being lifted late at night.

After completing the

requisite legal processes, police took control of both the remains and transported

them for potmortem examination. According to SP Omvir Singh, an FIR has been

filed against four persons under relevant parts of the law in

response to family complaints. Three teams have been formed to capture the

accused, and judicial actions are currently underway. Peace has been restored

the region, he added.

Singh further stated that the suspects are troublemakers from the victim's hamlet, and that investigations are underway.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi