Gaya: Two brothers were found dead under mysterious circumstances late on Sunday night near Naili village in Gaya district, just days before Diwali. Their bodies were discovered half a kilometre from the main road, hours after they went missing. The family has alleged that the two were strangled and their bodies dumped, accusing members of their extended clan of murder.
The deceased were identified as Yash Raj (27) and Vishal Raj (25) — cousins who were known to be close. Yash had been married only eight months earlier, while Vishal was recognised for his social work and blood donation efforts, earning a President’s Award for his contributions.
According to reports, tensions between the two families had been simmering for years. A month ago, a fight reportedly broke out between them over the naming of private buses operating on the Gaya–Ranchi route, leading to a police complaint. Vishal’s father, Chandu Yadav, who runs buses alongside Om Yadav, said the families of Puchu Yadav and Mallu Yadav, murdered in the same village years earlier, had long accused his family of involvement, fuelling an enduring rivalry.
Chandu Yadav alleged that the accused — identified as Om Yadav, Neeraj Yadav, Bhim Yadav, Sonu, Monu, Manoj Yadav, Arjun Yadav, and Mannu Yadav — had threatened to kill his sons if they refused to settle the dispute. “When they didn’t agree to compromise, they were killed when the opportunity arose,” he said, claiming that both men were strangled to death, as neither gunshot wounds nor visible injuries were found.
Following the discovery, villagers and relatives staged a road blockade at Sikaria turn in protest, placing the bodies on the road and demanding justice. Police, led by DSP Dharmendra Bharti, reached the site and pacified the crowd after an hour-long standoff. The bodies were later sent to Sadar Hospital for postmortem examination.
DSP Bharti confirmed that the family has filed a written complaint and alleged that the suspects belong to their own clan. “We are investigating all possible angles. The matter will be resolved within one to two days,” he said.
