AGRA: Tension prevailed in the temple town of

Mathura

, on Sunday, after the death of a 25-year-old shopkeeper,

, who was allegedly beaten by a group of men from another community over a week ago .

As the news of Bharat’s death spread in the local market, shopkeepers downed their shutters and demanded the arrest of the suspects, who were allegedly involved in a brawl with the deceased on May 18 night. Heavy police force was deployed in

area to prevent the situation from turning ugly.

According to police, Bharat and his brother Pankaj, who own a

shop in the market, had an altercation with a group of men of another community on May 18 night, after they demanded money from them for the lassi they had consumed. Police said the heated arguments led to a brawl in which Bharat was critically injured and admitted to a hospital.

After eight days of treatment, Bharat succumbed to injuries, today morning. However, police claimed that Bharat was earlier discharged from the hospital and he was re-admitted to the hospital with some other problems.

An FIR was then registered under relevant sections of IPC against 17 persons including Mohammad Hanif and Mohammad Shahrukh and 15 unidentified persons on a complaint filed by the deceased’s brother Pankaj. Police said the matter is under investigation.

Talking to TOI, Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Satyarth Aniruddh Pankaj, said that deceased’s body has been sent for post mortem. He said the situation is under control now and appropriate action will be taken into the matter on the basis of the investigations.

A local shopkeeper, Varun Rishi, said that the administration is only giving assurances but is not arresting the suspects.