Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh): In a gruesome incident that has sent shockwaves through the region, three men were brutally hacked to death with axes and choppers in Uttar Pradesh’s Gahmar village, allegedly as part of a long-standing rivalry between two groups. The assailants reportedly dumped the bodies in a nearby pond after the killings, police said on Thursday. The incident triggered protests by local residents and led to heightened tension in the area, prompting the deployment of additional police forces to maintain law and order.

According to senior police officials, the murders took place on Wednesday in Gahmar village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Varanasi police range. The victims were attacked in a coordinated and violent assault, during which sharp-edged weapons such as axes and choppers were used. After killing the men, the attackers allegedly threw their bodies into a pond in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

As of Thursday evening, two of the three bodies had been recovered, while efforts were ongoing to locate the third. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been pressed into service to assist local police in searching the pond and surrounding areas for the missing body.

Confirming the incident, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Varanasi Range, Vaibhav Krishna said that a case had been registered against 12 people based on complaints lodged by the families of the victims. He said preliminary investigations pointed to an old rivalry between two groups within the village.

“Axes and choppers were used in the attack. The groups involved had an altercation earlier this year, in which cases were also registered. The dispute was linked to two ‘majras’ (smaller settlements or hamlets) in the village,” the DIG said, indicating that tensions between the groups had been simmering for some time.

Sequence of events

While police are still piecing together the exact sequence of events, initial findings suggest that the victims were targeted deliberately. Investigators believe the assailants lay in wait and launched a sudden attack, giving the victims little chance to escape. The brutality of the assault, police said, points to deep-seated enmity rather than a spontaneous clash.

“One body was recovered on Wednesday soon after the incident came to light. Another was found on Thursday evening during an intensified search operation. Efforts are continuing to trace the third body,” DIG Krishna said.

The recovered bodies were sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death and collect forensic evidence. Police said the autopsy reports would be crucial in corroborating the manner of the killings and the weapons used.

Protests and tension in the village

News of the killings spread quickly in Gahmar and nearby villages, triggering anger and fear among residents. Family members of the victims, along with other villagers, staged protests demanding immediate arrests and strict action against those responsible. Some residents blocked roads and gathered near police outposts, accusing the authorities of failing to prevent the violence despite the known rivalry between the groups.

The protests led to a tense situation in the area, prompting the administration to deploy additional police personnel to prevent any further escalation or retaliatory violence. Senior officers visited the village to pacify residents and assure them of swift and impartial action.

Police said they were closely monitoring the situation and had appealed to villagers to maintain peace. “Strict action will be taken against all those involved in the crime. No one will be spared,” DIG Krishna said, seeking to reassure the victims’ families and the wider community.

Old rivalry at the root

Investigators believe the killings were the result of an old rivalry between two groups from different ‘majras’ within Gahmar village. According to police records, there had been an altercation between the same groups earlier this year, following which cases were registered on both sides.

“These were not isolated individuals acting alone. It appears to be a continuation of an earlier dispute that turned violent,” a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity. He added that police were examining past complaints, village-level disputes, and the role of local factors that may have contributed to the escalation.

Such rivalries, often rooted in land disputes, local dominance, or long-standing personal enmities, are not uncommon in rural areas. However, officials said the scale and brutality of the attack suggested careful planning and collective participation.

Search and investigation underway

With one body still missing, search operations are continuing with the help of the SDRF, which is equipped to conduct underwater searches. Teams are combing the pond and nearby water bodies, while divers and rescue personnel work alongside local police.

At the same time, police teams have been formed to track down the accused named in the FIR. Raids are being conducted at possible hideouts, and efforts are underway to detain suspects for questioning. Officials said some of the accused had gone absconding after the incident.

“We are conducting raids and questioning people connected to the case. Evidence is being collected, and arrests will be made soon,” a police official said.

Political and administrative response

The triple murder has drawn attention at higher levels of the police administration, given the law-and-order implications and the public unrest it triggered. Senior officers are said to be reviewing the situation regularly to ensure that the investigation progresses swiftly and transparently.

Local administration officials have also stepped in to restore normalcy. Meetings were held with community leaders and village elders to discourage further violence and prevent rumours from spreading.

A pattern of rural violence

The incident has once again highlighted the persistent problem of violent feuds in rural parts of Uttar Pradesh, where long-standing rivalries can suddenly erupt into deadly violence. Despite police efforts to mediate disputes and register preventive cases, such conflicts sometimes spiral out of control.

Criminologists note that the use of sharp weapons like axes and choppers points to easy access to lethal tools in rural settings, which can turn disputes fatal within minutes. They stress the need for stronger preventive policing, timely intervention in known rivalries, and community-level conflict resolution mechanisms.

Assurance of strict action

Reiterating the police’s stand, DIG Vaibhav Krishna said that the investigation would be carried out thoroughly and that those responsible would be brought to justice. “Strict action will be taken against all the accused involved in this heinous crime,” he said.

As the search for the third body continues and the investigation progresses, residents of Gahmar remain on edge, hoping for swift arrests and justice for the victims. For now, the village stands as a grim reminder of how unresolved rivalries and unchecked violence can tear apart communities, leaving behind fear, anger and grief.