Brazen murder of Chhattisgarh Congress leader’s son cracked, sand mining rivalry was motive
Ayush’s father, Sammelan Kashyap, a local Congress leader, had alleged at the time that his son was killed over a business rivalry linked to illegal sand mining in the area. Police now say the investigation has confirmed that angle.
A month after the 18-year-old son of a Congress leader was shot dead in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district over an alleged illegal sand-mining rivalry, police have arrested four men — including the alleged key conspirator.
Police said the accused allegedly trailed Ayush Kashyap of Karhi village as he returned home on April 24, changed clothes to mask their identity, forced their way into his house and locked his parents in a room before shooting him dead. His 16-year-old brother was also shot but survived.
The gang had also broken nearby CCTV cameras before the attack.
Ayush’s father, Sammelan Kashyap, a local Congress leader, had alleged at the time that his son was killed over a business rivalry linked to illegal sand mining in the area. Police now say the investigation has confirmed that angle.
Janjgir-Champa Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Pandey said: “I realised the murder had a sand-mining angle, as there have been murders linked to sand mining in the past. I was also aware of a gang active on social media that assaulted people for money, and began tracking them. Another clue was the 20-minute lag between the breaking of cameras and the murder, which made us suspect something was amiss.”
Police said another clue was that one of the accused, 23-year-old Bhushan Baghel, owed money to Ayush’s father. Bhushan was traced to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, while two others — Hemant Baghel, 23, and alleged shooter Amit Tondon, 28 — were arrested from the village.
The fourth accused, Ganpat Baghel, was arrested Wednesday. Police said Ganpat had a business rivalry with Ayush and was unhappy with his entry into the sand-mining business.
The Indian Express had previously reported that while tenders have been awarded for sand mining, paperwork is still pending, which makes all sand quarrying activities in the area illegal.
“Ayush was a quick learner. He had recently bought a truck and a JCB machine to enter the sand-mining business, and Ganpat felt his business would be affected. He offered Rs 50,000 each to the shooters and promised them work in the sand-mining business,” a police official said.
However, Sammelan told The Indian Express that Ganpat was “just a pawn” and that “the masterminds are still at large”.
Responding to the allegation, SP Pandey said: “We are trying to trace the three accused who broke the CCTV cameras. We are collecting more evidence in the case.”
To curb illegal mining, police said they had dug a 1-km trench along the riverbank in the village.
“We also set up a police chowky and formed an illegal mining task force after this murder. A chain mountain vehicle, 15 Hyva trucks, a poclain machine and a couple of JCBs have been seized in the district. We have also started registering FIRs in illegal mining cases,” Pandey said, adding that government intervention had been sought.
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A month after the 18-year-old son of a Congress leader was shot dead in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district over an alleged illegal sand-mining rivalry, police have arrested four men — including the alleged key conspirator.
Police said the accused allegedly trailed Ayush Kashyap of Karhi village as he returned home on April 24, changed clothes to mask their identity, forced their way into his house and locked his parents in a room before shooting him dead. His 16-year-old brother was also shot but survived.
The gang had also broken nearby CCTV cameras before the attack.
Ayush’s father, Sammelan Kashyap, a local Congress leader, had alleged at the time that his son was killed over a business rivalry linked to illegal sand mining in the area. Police now say the investigation has confirmed that angle.
Janjgir-Champa Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Pandey said: “I realised the murder had a sand-mining angle, as there have been murders linked to sand mining in the past. I was also aware of a gang active on social media that assaulted people for money, and began tracking them. Another clue was the 20-minute lag between the breaking of cameras and the murder, which made us suspect something was amiss.”
Police said another clue was that one of the accused, 23-year-old Bhushan Baghel, owed money to Ayush’s father. Bhushan was traced to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, while two others — Hemant Baghel, 23, and alleged shooter Amit Tondon, 28 — were arrested from the village.
The fourth accused, Ganpat Baghel, was arrested Wednesday. Police said Ganpat had a business rivalry with Ayush and was unhappy with his entry into the sand-mining business.
The Indian Express had previously reported that while tenders have been awarded for sand mining, paperwork is still pending, which makes all sand quarrying activities in the area illegal.
“Ayush was a quick learner. He had recently bought a truck and a JCB machine to enter the sand-mining business, and Ganpat felt his business would be affected. He offered Rs 50,000 each to the shooters and promised them work in the sand-mining business,” a police official said.
However, Sammelan told The Indian Express that Ganpat was “just a pawn” and that “the masterminds are still at large”.
Responding to the allegation, SP Pandey said: “We are trying to trace the three accused who broke the CCTV cameras. We are collecting more evidence in the case.”
To curb illegal mining, police said they had dug a 1-km trench along the riverbank in the village.
“We also set up a police chowky and formed an illegal mining task force after this murder. A chain mountain vehicle, 15 Hyva trucks, a poclain machine and a couple of JCBs have been seized in the district. We have also started registering FIRs in illegal mining cases,” Pandey said, adding that government intervention had been sought.
