22-Year-Old Shot Dead by Relatives in Varanasi

VARANASI — A long-standing family feud over a plot of land took a fatal turn in Varanasi's Sindhora police station area on Thursday night, leaving a 22-year-old youth dead. The brazen murder, occurring right outside the victim's doorstep, has sent shockwaves through the local rural community.

The deceased has been identified as Saurabh Singh, son of Lalu Singh, a resident of Majhwa village.

Ambushed Outside His Own Home

According to local and police sources, the tragedy unfolded at approximately 9:15 PM on Thursday. Saurabh was standing casually outside his house in Majhwa village when the suspects—who are reported to be his own relatives—approached the area.

The accused allegedly called Saurabh over toward them. As soon as he drew close, one of the perpetrators drew a firearm and shot him directly in the head at point-blank range.

The sharp crack of the gunshot shattered the night's silence, prompting panicked family members and neighboring villagers to rush out of their homes. They found Saurabh collapsed on the ground, bleeding profusely from a critical head wound.

Failed Panchayat and Ongoing Feud

Saurabh was immediately scooped up by family members and rushed to a nearby private hospital in Sindhora. However, the medical team on duty declared him dead on arrival, noting that the head injury was fatal.

Family members later revealed to investigators that Saurabh had been embroiled in an escalating, bitter land dispute with his extended family. The tensions had peaked just a week prior to the murder, prompting village elders to convene a formal local panchayat (community council) in an attempt to mediate the property boundaries and pacify both factions. Unfortunately, the community resolution clearly failed to prevent the underlying animosity from boiling over.

Police Investigation Underway

Upon receiving information about the daytime shooting, a heavy contingent from the Sindhora police station rushed to Majhwa village to restore order and secure the crime scene.

The police team took physical custody of Saurabh's body and subsequently dispatched it to the district morgue for a mandatory post-mortem examination. Senior police officials handling the case stated that preliminary investigations explicitly point toward the old family land dispute as the primary motive for the targeted killing. Teams have been formed, and multiple raids are currently underway to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.