Purnea, Feb. 13: Ujjwal Kumar Jha (22) wanted to spend Valentine’s Day with his beloved Neha Kumari (name changed). But little did he know that his affair would cost him his father’s life.

Jha, a resident of Oli Tola, Bakhsa Ghat, was lingering near Neha’s house with his friends on Saturday evening to plan a programme with her. However, her family got to know of it and tried to avert the meeting. Later, people from Neha as well as Ujjwal’s side lost their tempers and got into a fight. Ujjwal later escaped with his friends, who got injured in the brawl.

After the group left, Ujjwal’s father, Nawal Kishore Jha, reached the spot with one Angad Kumar Upadhaya to enquire about the fight. The crowd present at the area lynched Nawal Kishore and Upadhaya assuming they had come to save Ujjwal. Both of them were rushed to Purnea Sadar hospital where Nawal Kishore was declared brought dead. Upadhaya is undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Rajendra Mahto, an injured from the girl’s side, has also been admitted at the same hospital. He told The Telegraph: “Ujjwal and his friends were fighting with Neha’s father Raj Kumar Jha, who was calling for help. I rushed to his help and was beaten by Ujjwal and his friends.”

An FIR has been registered at the Khajanchi Haat police station and three arrests have been made so far. Sources said Ujjwal and his friends were severely injured and were being treated at a private hospital and the police are trying to trace them.

Satish Kumar, the deputy superintendent of police (rural), told The Telegraph: “It is a case of an affair between Ujjwal and Neha. They had been together for many years but without the consent of their parents. In the fight between the groups, Nawal Kishore was severely injured and died on his way to the hospital.”