Gorakhpur: A 52-year-old power department contractor was allegedly dragged out of an autorickshaw and hacked to death by two brothers in a suspected revenge killing in Ahirauli village under Sikriganj police station limits on Saturday evening.The victim, Shivkumar Tripathi, was attending a funeral feast when he was allegedly attacked from behind with a sharp-edged weapon by Rahul Chaudhary, a resident of the same village. Tripathi suffered serious injuries and collapsed on the spot, eyewitnesses told police.Villagers and members of the host family rushed the injured contractor towards a hospital in an autorickshaw. However, the accused, along with his brother Rohit, allegedly intercepted the vehicle. Despite resistance from locals, the duo dragged Tripathi out of the auto and took him nearly 200 metres away before attacking him repeatedly with swords, killing him on the spot.According to reports, around 20 sharp-weapon injury marks were found on his body.Tripathi, a resident of Ahirauli, worked as a contractor with the electricity department. His son, Aditya, is an advocate practising in the Gorakhpur civil court.Police suspect the murder was linked to a longstanding feud. According to villagers, Rahul’s cousin, Adesh Chaudhary, was murdered in 2024, and some members of Tripathi’s extended family were named as accused in that case.Investigators are examining whether Saturday’s killing was an act of retaliation.Police rushed to the spot soon after receiving information about the incident and launched an investigation. SP (South) Dinesh Kumar Puri said an FIR has been registered in the case. Three named accused and seven others have been detained for questioning. Police are probing the exact motive behind the murder and examining the role of all those involved in the attack.
