Man assaulted in elopement case dies; seven arrested

Times News NetworkKhargone: A 43-year-old man, who was beaten on suspicion of helping a girl elope with her boyfriend in Sanawad police station area of Khargone district, died on Tuesday, prompting protests by his family members and villagers.Seven persons were arrested in the case.Sanawad police station in-charge Dharmendra Yadav told TOI that an adult girl had eloped with her boyfriend on June 4, and the couple subsequently got married. The boy later informed police that they had married and would appear before authorities at the Sanawad police station on June 10.The girl’s family members allegedly accused Radheshyam of helping the couple flee. Acting on this suspicion, the accused abducted Radheshyam and his brother-in-law, Tersingh, and brutally assaulted them.Both injured men were admitted to civil hospital in Sanawad and later referred to Khandwa. Based on Tersingh’s complaint, police registered a case.On Tuesday, Radheshyam’s condition deteriorated further, and he was referred to MY Hospital in Indore. He, however, died shortly after reaching the hospital, said Yadav.Following his death, angry relatives and villagers brought the body back to Sanawad and staged a protest, demanding that murder charges be added against the accused and that immediate arrests be made. The protest ended after police assured the family of strict action. The last rites were performed later on Tuesday evening.Police said seven persons--- Rakesh, Shantilal, Sevakram, Arjun, Dharmendra, Ramdas and Baliram, were arrested on Tuesday night.