Same spot, same weapon: After 15-year wait to seek revenge, sons lynch dad's killer with sticks in UP

LUCKNOW: In a rerun of the murder he had committed in the same area 15 years ago, a man was lynched in public view at Beniganj town of UP's Hardoi district on Tuesday morning, with the group of around 30 people, among them several women, who beat him to death being led by the two sons of the person he had killed in 2009.
Eighteen people, including seven women, have been arrested for Mahawat's murder, said Hardoi SP Neeraj Kumar Jadaun. The incident was captured on a CCTV installed at the home of a local resident. Police are scanning the footage and questioning the arrested persons and witnesses to zero in on 12 other accused.
Mahawat, aka Sarpanch, 48, came out of jail only last year, after serving a sentence of 15 years for the murder of Rampal, a fellow villager whom he had clubbed to death in public at Beniganj.
He killed dad with sticks, say accused
Then 33, Mahawat, from a nomadic community, was employed at a garment shop in 2009 when he attacked Rampal, a 30-year-old farm labourer, over a petty monetary dispute.
The victim's two sons, Rahul and Beeru, were just 12 and 10, respectively, at the time.
With numerous witnesses testifying against him, Mahawat was awarded a life term. After being released from jail last year, he settled in Lakhimpur district.
But fate drew him back to Beniganj - and into the crosshairs of Rahul and Beeru, now adults.
They cornered him along with a mob on Tuesday morning, at a spot not far from the place where their father was murdered. Mahawat was assaulted and hit with lathis until police arrived. He was taken to a local health facility but was pronounced dead.
The SP said the accused showed no remorse. Rahul and Beeru told the police: "He killed our father with sticks and we did the same to him." The women accused echoed the sentiment. "What happened was destined to happen. It just got delayed," they said.