Madhya Pradesh: Municipal officer shot dead over dispute regarding water

A municipal corporation official was reportedly shot by a local over an alleged dispute regarding water scarcity in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.

The officer, who was posted as the valveman in the district, was in a critical condition when he was rushed to the hospital. He was shot by a youth who has been identified as Lakhan Dingia.

According to a report in a Hindi news daily, Betul district, which is reeling under severe water crisis, had not received water supply for the past five days. The accused reportedly asked the officer to start the valve around midnight and opened fire when he refused to do so.

The accused has been arrested by the police.

Section 144 has already been imposed and all construction works have been restricted in MP's Betul following severe water crisis in the region.