A long-standing land dispute among family members turned deadly in Bakaner village under Maheshwar police station limits on Friday night, resulting in one death and six injuries, according to police. The clash erupted over the ownership and possession of agricultural land, quickly escalating into a violent confrontation that led to the death of Mangilal Bhil, a resident of Bakaner village.
Police Response and Medical Aid
Police forces from three stations rushed to the spot after receiving information and transported the injured to Dhamnod Civil Hospital in neighboring Dhar district. Those with serious injuries were later referred to the district hospital in Dhar.
Roots of the Dispute
Maheshwar police station in-charge Jagdish Goyal stated that the dispute originated from an alleged encroachment on government land several years ago. According to Goyal, Nannu had occupied around six bighas of government land and later invited his maternal uncle, Mangilal, to settle in the village. The two reportedly divided the land equally and cultivated it for years. Tensions surfaced in recent months when Nannu allegedly demanded not only his share but also the portion being cultivated by Mangilal.
Attack and Aftermath
During a confrontation on Friday, Nannu and four others allegedly attacked Mangilal, his son Ranjit, grandson Santosh, and his sister. Mangilal was admitted to Dhamnod Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Three other family members were referred to Dhar for treatment. Tension prevailed on Saturday after Mangilal’s postmortem examination. Angry relatives carried the body to Kakarda police outpost and staged a protest, demanding immediate arrest of the accused. The protest ended after officials assured the family that the accused would be arrested promptly. The body was subsequently taken back to Bakaner village for the last rites.
