Farmer’s eyes gouged out over land dispute

BHOPAL - A Madhya Pradesh farmer’s eyes were gouged out with a knife and his parents beaten up by a former village headman and his supporters over a land dispute, police said Thursday.

Pyarelal Sen, 26, was blinded Wednesday in his village in Kashipura in Chhatarpur district. Police said the former sarpanch Dayaram Yadav and three others have been arrested.

Giving details of the horrific incident, a police official said: “Pyarelal Sen was going to his field when former sarpanch Dayaram Yadav, with whom the farmer had a dispute over a piece of land, stopped him and hurled abuses. Pyarelal’s father Chhotelal intervened and persuaded Yadav to leave.”

However, Yadav returned with nine others, caught hold of Pyarelal from near his house and gouged out both his eyes with a knife, he added.

The accused also thrashed Pyarelal’s parents — Chhotelal, 65, and Gauri Bai, 56, — inflicting serious injuries.

The three family members were rushed to Chhatarpur district hospital where they are undergoing treatment.

Doctors said Pyarelal’s eyes were completely damaged and there was little chance that he would be able to see again.

“Four people — Dayaram Yadav, Munni Yadav, Surendra Yadav and Milan Yadav — have been arrested and six others, including two women are at large,” Chhatarpur Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) M.L. Chhari told IANS.