A tragic incident unfolded in Varanasi’s Bhelupur area on Thursday, when a dispute over a parking spot escalated into a brutal murder. The victim, Praveen Jha, a respected teacher at a prominent private school in the city, was attacked with bricks and iron rods by three men, including his neighbour Adarsh Singh. The violent assault, which took place at Matri Chhaya Apartment, has left the community in shock and mourning.
According to police officials, the crime was not a sudden act of rage but a premeditated attack. Adarsh Singh, who had been in conflict with Jha over parking issues for some time, allegedly conspired with two acquaintances from Chandauli district. These accomplices were identified as 19-year-old Karan Gaud and his associate Satish Patel. Together, they planned and carried out the deadly assault, which ultimately cost Praveen Jha his life.
Neighbours and residents of the apartment complex revealed that disputes over the parking space had become a recurring source of tension between the victim and Adarsh. On the night of the incident, the matter turned violent. Witnesses stated that Adarsh was honking repeatedly in the parking lot, which led Jha to object. What began as a brief verbal argument soon escalated, and both men returned to their respective flats. However, the situation took a darker turn when Adarsh later summoned his two associates to the apartment and lured Praveen back downstairs.
An eyewitness recounted the horrifying sequence of events. As soon as Praveen arrived, the three men began attacking him mercilessly. They used bricks and iron rods as weapons, striking him repeatedly. Despite attempts from neighbours to intervene, the attackers continued until Jha collapsed from the injuries. He was immediately rushed to the trauma centre, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Senior police officials confirmed the details of the crime. DCP Crime Sarwan T explained that both the accused and the victim lived in the same apartment building, with Jha residing on the third floor and Adarsh on the second. The officer further revealed that Adarsh had meticulously planned the attack, enlisting the help of his acquaintances to ensure the assault was carried out. Police teams acted swiftly after the incident, and within three hours, all three accused were taken into custody.
The police have since recovered the weapons used in the crime, and CCTV footage from the apartment complex has corroborated the eyewitness accounts. This evidence is expected to play a crucial role in the ongoing investigation. Authorities have assured that a thorough probe is underway to ensure justice for the victim.
It was also revealed that Adarsh Singh is the son of Duniya Ram Singh, a former Vice Chancellor of Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. However, officials were quick to clarify that his father had no role in the crime. Adarsh himself is employed as a Chief Marketing Officer in a private firm and has been residing intermittently in the flat purchased by his father two decades ago.
The brutal killing of Praveen Jha has sent shockwaves through Varanasi, especially within the educational community, where he was held in high regard. Residents of the apartment complex are shaken, not only by the gruesome nature of the attack but also by the fact that such violence stemmed from a seemingly trivial parking dispute. Police continue to investigate, while the community mourns the loss of a dedicated teacher whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence.
