‘We will surely kill you’:Accused posts WhatsApp status minutes before Jabalpur sand contractor’s murder; rivalry over decade-old loan dispute

A sand contractor was shot dead in broad daylight in Jabalpur’s Sihora, on December 11, triggering panic and anger in the area. The incident occurred around 1 pm on a busy road, where 50-year-old Dharmendra Thakur, also known as Chintu, was chased, dragged onto the road and shot at close range. A chilling video of the murder surfaced soon after, showing the attackers pursuing him, overpowering him and opening fire before fleeing. The murder took place in front of a car washing centre, which has since remained shut. Bloodstains are still visible at the spot, underlining the brazenness of the crime. Police teams reached the area soon after and began an investigation, while the video circulated widely, raising questions about law and order in the region. Read the full on-ground report.. Family in shock at Khitaula Village After the incident, the Dainik Bhaskar team reached Khitaula village, around 45 km from Jabalpur district headquarters, to understand the background of the victim and the impact on his family. Dharmendra Thakur’s house was filled with grief. His elderly parents were inconsolable, crying continuously as relatives and villagers tried to comfort them. His wife Seema Thakur sat silently with their two young children, an eight-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter, struggling to process the sudden loss. The family said Dharmendra had been associated with sand contracting for the past five years and had multiple disputes linked to the business. The atmosphere in the village remained tense as residents discussed the murder and the long-standing rivalry behind it. Old dispute rooted over a loan Dharmendra’s mother, Rajni, recounted the origins of the enmity that, according to her, ultimately led to her son’s killing. She said Dharmendra was once friends with Ashish Vishwakarma, also known as Assu. About 10 years ago, Assu had borrowed ₹50,000 from Dharmendra for his sister’s wedding. When Dharmendra later asked for the money back, Assu refused. Eventually, Dharmendra let the matter go. However, Rajni alleged that Assu continued to nurture hostility and later attacked Dharmendra near a temple in their locality. Dharmendra was injured in that firing and was taken to Jabalpur for treatment, where he recovered. Since then, she said, the rivalry kept escalating. Rajni, breaking down repeatedly, said she had already lost one son during the COVID-19 pandemic and now the other had been murdered. ‘My house has been destroyed. There are small children. I want justice,’ she said, questioning why the police did not approach the family earlier for information. Stranger’s visit before the murder Rajni also identified one of the accused from a social media post that surfaced during the investigation. She said a young man seen in the photo had visited their house around ten days before the murder. According to her, the man came early in the morning and asked about Dharmendra’s whereabouts, claiming he was a friend from Jabalpur and had earlier been in jail with him. She alleged that attempts were repeatedly made to trap her son due to rivalry. She said, He was pushed into contesting a councillor election and made to lose. Later, he was drawn into sand contracting. Others created the enmity, but my son kept getting framed. Father seeks justice for grandchildren Dharmendra’s father, Ranjit Singh, said he was left helpless after the murder. At around 80 years of age, he said he had no means to support his grandchildren. ‘Enemies killed my son. Who will raise these children now?’ he asked, demanding strict action against those responsible. Moments before the attack Dharmendra’s wife Seema Thakur recalled that December 11 had begun like a normal day. She said her husband returned home around noon after the children came back from school. He played with them, had lunch and then left, saying he was going to join a movement demanding district status for Sihora. He told her he would return shortly. She alleged that the attackers followed him as soon as he left home. ‘They were waiting for him. He was killed moments later,’ she said, demanding the harshest punishment for Assu Vishwakarma and his associates. She broke down repeatedly while speaking about her children’s future. Call cut short by gunshots Dharmendra’s friend Vivek Seth provided a crucial timeline. He showed his call records, stating that Dharmendra had spoken to him at 12:57 pm, barely three minutes before the shooting. The conversation lasted over three minutes and was normal, Vivek said. He recalled, Suddenly, I heard gunshots over the phone and the call disconnected. He tried calling back at 1:01 pm and again at 1:04 pm, but there was no response. Shortly after, he received news that Dharmendra had been shot dead. Eyewitness identifies shooters Eyewitness Narendra Mishra said he saw the entire incident. He was cycling from Khitaula towards Sihora around 1 pm when he noticed two men chasing Dharmendra near the car washing centre. ‘They fired at him in front of my eyes,’ he said, adding that he stopped his bicycle in fear. When shown photographs by the Bhaskar team, Narendra immediately identified the two men as the shooters. He said one of them was from Sihora and the other from Rewa. Locals later identified them as Lavi alias Som Tiwari from Rewa and Shekhar Barman from Sihora. Some residents said off camera that Lavi had known Dharmendra for a long time. Social media post before the crime During the investigation, a social media status posted about an hour before the murder came to light. It showed the accused sitting together in a restaurant. Audio clips accompanying the post reportedly spoke about taking revenge and killing a ‘mastermind,’ indicating prior planning. Arrests and police action Police later arrested Lavi alias Som Tiwari and Shekhar Barman from near Darshani village while they were allegedly trying to flee the area. Investigators believe both acted on the instructions of notorious criminal Assu Vishwakarma. After their arrest, Khitaula police produced them in court and secured a three-day remand for questioning. Police officials said the investigation is ongoing and is focused on establishing the full conspiracy, including the role of Assu Vishwakarma and the motive linked to past rivalries and the sand business.