Bhopal auto driver dies after assault over Rs 2,000 loan; murder charge added against accused

A CNG auto driver injured in an assault over a loan of about Rs 2,000 in Bhopal's Shahjahanabad area died during treatment at Hamidia Hospital at around 10 am on Thursday. He had struggled between life and death for three days.

The deceased has been identified as Rajesh Yadav, 38, son of Satyanarayan Yadav. He lived in Sanjay Nagar, near the water tank, in Shahjahanabad. Rajesh supported his family by driving a CNG auto. His wife died of burns about eight years ago. He has two children, who had gone to their maternal grandmother's house for Deepavali. Rajesh was alone at home when the attack took place, though his younger brother's child, who lives next door, was in the house.

According to police, Rajesh had borrowed about Rs 2,000 from a man in the neighbourhood, who was continuously pressing him to return the money. At around 2 am on November 9, the accused went to Rajesh's house over this dispute. He is alleged to have entered the house, started abusing Rajesh and then struck him repeatedly with an iron pipe. Rajesh suffered serious injuries to the head, arms and legs and fell unconscious on the spot.

Sulochana Yadav, the complainant in the case, told police that she works at AIIMS hospital. At around 2 am, her niece called her on her mobile phone and said the accused was beating up her uncle. According to the niece, the accused had entered the house over an old money dealing and was attacking with an iron rod while abusing him. Neighbours reached the spot on hearing the screams and intervened. The accused is alleged to have threatened, while leaving, that he would kill Rajesh if his money was not returned.

Some time later, Rajesh's younger brother reached the house and found him lying unconscious, breathing rapidly. Family members took him straight to Hamidia Hospital, where doctors admitted him and began treatment. Given his critical condition, he was kept under constant medical watch, but he died on Thursday morning.

Shahjahanabad police had earlier registered a case of attempt to murder against the accused on the family's complaint. Following Rajesh's death, police are taking further legal action in the case, including adding a murder charge.