Man killed in drunken brawl over money dispute, body set ablaze

Raipur: In a chilling case of betrayal and brutality, three friends allegedly murdered their companion over a money dispute and then set his body on fire near a cremation ground in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district. Police have arrested two accused — Ramjeet Ram (25) and Virendra Ram (24) along with a 17-year-old juvenile, and recreated the crime scene to establish the sequence of events. The victim, identified as Seemit Khakha (28) of Sitonga village, had recently returned from Jharkhand, where he had gone for work with the accused. He went missing after returning home, prompting concern among locals.According to police, on the evening of October 17, the four friends gathered near the Bankitoli bridge close to a cremation ground and began drinking. During their conversation, a heated argument broke out over the division of money earned during their work in Jharkhand. The dispute quickly escalated into violence. Police said Ramjeet Ram stabbed Khakha in the chest with a knife he had concealed in his bag, while Virendra Ram attacked him with an iron rod. A minor accomplice also joined in the assault. The accused had carried the weapons in advance, suggesting premeditation.Body burnt 400 metres away to destroy evidenceAfter killing him, the trio carried Khakha's body about 400 metres away and poured petrol on it before setting it ablaze in an attempt to destroy evidence. They then fled the scene. Jashpur ASP Anil Soni said that on October 18, police were informed about a half-burnt body found near Turitongri area of Purana Nagar. When officers arrived, the body's face and most of the torso were charred beyond recognition.An FIR was registered after the post-mortem confirmed murder. Identification was initially difficult, but police later learned that Seemit Khakha had been missing for days. Investigators detained his co-workers, Ramjeet and Virendra, for questioning. ASP Soni said the suspects initially tried to mislead the police but later confessed during sustained interrogation. They admitted to killing Khakha over a dispute about sharing commission money.All three accused were booked for murder under relevant IPC sections and presented before court, which has sent them to judicial custody. Police have recovered the partially burnt remains of the victim, the murder weapons, and evidence from the crime site. Further investigation is underway to verify the extent of pre-planning and the minor's role in the crime.Authorities described the murder as "a shocking case of greed turning fatal," highlighting the dangers of disputes arising from money earned through group labour contracts.