Murder over ₹20 note amid drunken brawl; 1 detained

Lucknow: A drunken argument triggered by a Rs 20 note ended in a brutal murder in a park in Bazaarkhala on Tuesday afternoon. The accused, Pintu, resident of Pandey Talab, was traced through CCTV footage and detained. Vijay Gautam (40), resident of Sanjay Nagar, worked at a quilt and mattress filling shop in Maulviganj. Vijay and Pintu were drunk and went to Maharaja Agrasen Park in Tilak Nagar. They walked into the park, arms across each other’s shoulders. While drinking and eating inside the park, an argument broke out over a Rs 20 note.

Pintu attacked Vijay repeatedly with a wooden stick, said police, adding that Vijay suffered severe head and facial injuries and died on the spot. Blood stains were found on the ground and on an iron bench inside the park.

Investigators said, in the assault, one of Vijay’s eyes popped out while the other sank in. Police suspect the fight continued for nearly 20 minutes, yet those present nearby failed to notice.

The accused fled and was drinking at a liquor shop in Aishbagh, where police detained him. FIR has been lodged on complaint of the victim’s mother. The body has been sent for post mortem.