Lucknow: Police have arrested a fourth accused in the murder of utensil trader Vinod Kumar Sahani, who was stabbed by a group of assailants in Gonda’s Paraspur area following a dispute linked to social media posts.Police said that the accused was arrested on Saturday based on information obtained during the interrogation of the three suspects arrested earlier.Police teams are conducting raids at several locations to trace the other accused.Sahani was returning home after closing his utensil shop at Shahpur market at 8 pm on Wednesday when he was attacked by 10 men on four motorcycles.Sahani was initially taken to a medical facility before being referred to King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, on Thursday.The murder triggered anger among residents who staged protests in the district.Cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad held a protest at KGMU and in Gonda. Samajwadi Party members and Congress functionaries also sought to meet the victim’s family, while members of the Nishad community visited the victim’s house and demanded strict action against the accused.Deputy inspector general Ashok Kumar Shukla said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that the dispute may have originated from social media posts which subsequently escalated. Police are examining this aspect and have also decided to increase monitoring of social media platforms to prevent provocative posts from disturbing law and order.”Sahani’s family has demanded stringent action against the accused, including invocation of the National Security Act (NSA) and demolition of their properties. The family has also sought a CBI probe, compensation and a govt job for one member of the family.Security has been tightened near the victim’s residence. Barricades have also been installed on roads leading to the victim’s house, while additional police personnel have been deployed in the village.
