Minor dispute over watermelon sparks violent clash in Jhansi village

Jhansi: A trivial dispute over a watermelon allegedly thrown outside a house escalated into a violent clash between two groups in Fatehpur State village under the Poonch police station area of Jhansi. A video of the incident, showing men and women attacking each other with sticks, has gone viral on social media.

According to a complaint lodged with the police, Lakshmi Devi, wife of Ballan Pal and a resident of the village, alleged that a group of villagers forcibly entered her house armed with sticks and assaulted her around 8 am on the day of the incident. At the time, she was alone at home carrying out household chores, while her husband had gone to a relative’s house to help install tin sheets.

Lakshmi alleged that upon hearing her cries, her husband rushed back and attempted to intervene. The commotion and the cries of a child drew several local residents to the spot. A Dial 112 police team also reached the village after receiving information about the clash. However, the accused allegedly fled after threatening the family with dire consequences.

The woman further claimed that when she approached the police station to lodge a complaint, her husband was detained for questioning and she was not immediately provided medical assistance despite sustaining injuries. She was later shifted by ambulance to the Community Health Centre in Moth, where she received treatment.

Circle Officer (Moth) Ajay Shrotriya said cases have been registered on complaints from both sides and an investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances that led to the clash.