Sumarta was reportedly having illicit relations with Suneeta for the past two months. Yesterday, some villager told the girl's family about the matter. The family reportedly saw them in a compromising position. Agitated by this, they reached Sumarta's house, locked his two sons and dragged him out. After beating him with iron rods and wooden sticks they left him to die.

Surprisingly, the police came to know about the incident very late, when the victim's sons reached the police station. This is despite the fact that the entire village knew about the incident. It seems that the villagers gave their silent consent to the barbaric act, thepolice told The Indian Express. No one came to the rescue of the old man while he was being beaten.

According to the police, soon after Sumatra died, the panchayat was called. It heard the submission of the girl's family member who had killed Sumarta. They even sought permission to dispose of the body. The panchayat is said to have approved of the killing and suggested the culprits dispose of the body and not surrender before police. It also ordered them to kill Suneeta as well, as she was guilty of `breaking social norms'.

Following the panchayat's order, the culprits burnt Sumarta's body.Meanwhile, Sumarta's sons managed to flee. They told the police police that their father's body was being cremated by the culprits. The police rushed to the spot but someone informed the miscreants about their arrival in advance. The body was taken out of the funeral pyre with 80 per cent burns.

Shockingly, no one in the village spoke about the incident. The police had to rely on the version of the victim's sons. Thepolice have registered a case against eight persons. No magisterial enquiry has so far been ordered into the incident.