A shocking incident of violence stemming from a dispute over money for alcohol has resulted in the death of a 30-year-old man in Kanpur. The victim, identified as Sonu Balmiki, was allegedly killed by his long-time friend, Atul Balmiki, in the Kalyanpur area. Police have arrested the accused, who has confessed to the crime.
The Fatal Evening and Discovery
The tragic sequence of events began on Tuesday evening in the Nankari area of Kalyanpur. According to police, Sonu and Atul met at a liquor shop. Sonu asked his friend for money to buy liquor, but Atul refused. This refusal sparked an argument between the two.
An agitated Sonu then went to a nearby empty plot in Barasirohi, allegedly while hurling abuses at Atul. Atul followed him to the spot, where the verbal altercation escalated. Police stated that Sonu attacked Atul with a brick. In what officials described as a fit of rage, Atul retaliated by picking up a brick himself and striking Sonu on the head multiple times.
Seeing Sonu lying in a blood-soaked condition, a panicked Atul fled the scene, believing his friend to be dead. The body lay undiscovered through the night.
Victim Found, Police Investigation Launched
The grim discovery was made on Wednesday morning by children who were playing cricket in the area. They noticed Sonu lying injured in the empty plot and immediately alerted his family. He was rushed to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Police reached the spot, conducted an investigation, and sent the body for a post-mortem examination. Acting on a report filed by the victim's father, Ramveer, who suspected foul play, investigators began their probe. Their findings quickly led them to Sonu's friend, Atul Balmiki.
Confession and Arrest
During interrogation, Atul Balmiki confessed to the murder. He recounted the dispute over money for liquor and the subsequent physical confrontation that turned fatal. DCP West S M Qasim Abidi confirmed that a murder case has been registered. Following his confession, the accused was formally arrested and sent to jail on Saturday.
It was revealed that Sonu had been working as a civic worker at the ACP Kalyanpur office but had left the job just a few days prior to the incident. The case highlights a tragic end to a long-standing friendship over a seemingly trivial matter that spiraled out of control.
