The Tragic Loss Of An Innocent Life
The harrowing incident took place in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The case involves the murder of Gopal Sharma, born to a humble brahmin family. A 15-year-old class 9 student and the son of Ravi Bhushan Sharma alias Bunty, a resident of Banwaribas village in the Jewar area of Greater Noida. Gopal was found brutally dead in an abandoned building in suspicious circumstances.
The incident occurred on Thursday, May 21. Gopal’s father had gone to Sector 27 at around 02:30 pm to complete the discharge formalities for Gopal’s grandfather from the hospital. Meanwhile, Gopal went missing between 03:30 pm and 04:00 pm. According to family members, he would often visit a nearby shop with his friends on a motorcycle to smoke hookah. They have called their relatives to find out. They request their relatives to take this matter seriously and initiate a search for him as soon as possible.
Gopal’s father stated that the family had no personal enmity with anyone and maintained a clean record in the village. Expressing their anger over the brutality, relatives said, “Such incidents send an inappropriate message to the public. We question the delay in delivering justice to ordinary people. Crime has no caste; it shouldn’t be viewed through a caste-based lens. The culprit must be punished, regardless of their caste.”
Several Brahmin organisations have taken to the streets, demanding the prompt arrest of those behind Gopal’s murder.
Deputy CM Brijesh Pathak intervened in the matter and assured the family of justice. The police assured the family that justice would be served and stated that the accused’s house had been demolished using a bulldozer, and that an encounter with those predators would occur.
Why and how did the brutality take place?
Joint CP Rajeev Narayan Mishra told the press that on 21st May, police received information about the disappearance of Gopal Sharma from the victim’s family members. Upon receiving the complaint, the police registered an FIR at the Jewar, Kotwali, and launched an investigation. During the investigation, they discovered Gopal Sharma’s body in an abandoned house in Rohi village, four kilometres from his village. Reportedly, the teenager had severe head injuries, and a large amount of blood was spilt in the room. Following this, the police and family members suspected murder.
- Cause of the Murder: Gopal used to smoke hookah with the accused men. One day, around one and a half months ago, his grandmother discovered that Gopal had fallen into bad company and had developed a hookah addiction. She scolded the men and asked them to stop influencing her grandson negatively. The accused men became offended after being reprimanded by their grandmother. Planned a strategy to take revenge.
- Conspiracy: On May 21, Gopal allegedly visited the suspects’ house again. The men allegedly forced him to smoke a hookah laced with a hallucinogenic substance, which reportedly led to asphyxiation. After administering a heavy dose through the hookah, they allegedly pushed him forcefully against a wall. Gopal reportedly lost consciousness, after which the accused fled the scene.
- The Body Discovered: The family continued searching for Gopal. When he failed to return by 07:00 pm., four to five people set out to look for him and eventually reached the crime scene. The body had begun to decompose, resulting in a strong foul odour. According to reports, some individuals were smoking hookah at the location. One of them allegedly remarked, “If the dead body is yours, take it; otherwise, leave it.” The house was abandoned.
The family’s allegations after discovering Gopal Sharma’s body
“If my son had been shot, I would have felt less pain,” said the devastated father of Gopal Sharma while expressing his anguish over the brutal killing of his son.
In this case, claims of brutality have been made against Gopal Sharma. Gopal Sharma’s father, Bunty, told a news channel that his son’s body was lying on the floor in such a horrible condition that it was unbearable to even look at it. The deceased child’s eyes were bulging out. Gopal’s mother said that the condition of Gopal’s dead body was so bad that she couldn’t even look at it. Gopal’s grandmother said that something had been stuffed into Gopal’s mouth, and his eyes were bulging out.
Speaking to a news channel, the deceased’s father, Bunty, claimed that he had found the body himself. He said no one is telling what happened to his son. He said, “I want an encounter with the accused men, and a bulldozer on their houses.”
Further, he said, “My son’s private parts were cut off, and he was subjected to such cruelty. Nails were driven into his hands, acid was poured on him, and he was urinated on.”
Three accused arrested after encounter
In a major operation, the Greater Noida police arrested three suspects – Naresh, Mohit and Umesh Kumar – all residents of Rohi village. According to police, the accused were spotted riding a motorcycle. When officers tried to stop them, the trio allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire at the police team. In the firing, Naresh & Umesh sustained bullet injuries in their legs, while Mohit surrendered on the spot. The injured accused were admitted to a hospital.
Investigators further revealed that the three accused were planning to escape from the district. An illicit weapon, bullets, and a motorcycle without a number plate were also recovered from the accused. Their identities were revealed as Umesh, a labour supply contractor; Naresh, a grocery shop owner near the crime scene; and Mohit, a vehicle helper.
Post-Mortem Report and the claims of brutality imposed on Gopal Sharma
Reportedly, DCP Praveen Ranjan Singh said that the post-mortem examination was conducted by a team of two doctors, and videography of the entire procedure was securely preserved. According to the medical findings, no evidence of external injuries or brutality was found on the body except for a head injury. The examination also found no evidence of sexual assault, contradicting rumours circulating on social media and the internet.
Further, DCP said, “The Viscera samples were collected and sent to a forensic science laboratory for chemical analysis. The post-mortem team consisted of a medical specialist and a medical officer. According to investigators, the case was supported by witness statements, forensic evidence, and electronic surveillance records. The findings suggested that the death was caused internally, allegedly as a result of a toxic substance consumed through a hookah. However, the exact cause of death is not yet known. Important clues have been found. A successful investigation will be carried out soon.”
“The body was decomposing, it was hot, and the room was as hot as a furnace.” He dismissed claims on social media that the child had been rapped.
Government and Community Reactions
Members of the Rashtriya Brahmin Ekta Manch met with the deceased child’s family and warned of a major protest if appropriate action is not taken. Local Brahmin groups have also expressed outrage over the incident, while the police have assured the family and community that the matter will be resolved as swiftly as possible.
Strict action will be taken against Gopal Sharma’s killers: Shalabh Mani Tripathi, BJP MLA from Deoria Sadar. He wrote,
“Yogi Adityanath’s government is taking swift action on this matter. I have spoken to Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajiv Krishna and STF Chief Amitabh Yash about this incident and have urged them to take the strongest possible action against the predators. Our condolences are with the victim’s family; the incident will be revealed soon.”
References:
- Investigation & Post-Mortem: https://youtu.be
- https://youtu.be
- Family’s Claim: https://youtu.be
- http://opindia.com
- https://www.abplive.com
- https://youtu.be
- https://youtu.be
- https://youtube.com