Mumbai:
A 23-year-old man was stabbed to death in a brawl that turned violent over a game of cricket in the Bharat Nagar area at Bandra-Kurla complex on Saturday night.
The deceased person, Imran Qureshi, had intervened in an altercation between his younger brother Zayed (15), and Rizwana, a neighbour, who had objected to Zayed playing cricket with his friends in the area. Imran was to get married on January 11.
According to the police, Imran was murdered because of past enmity, as the two families had been involved in minor scuffles in the past.
Police managed to nab the four accused - Sonu Lala Qureshi, Tanveer Qureshi, Yusuf Qureshi and Yusuf's wife Rizwana - in the nick of time, as they were preparing to leave the city after the incident.
On Saturday night, Zayed was playing cricket with his friends in the area when Rizwana asked him not to play there.
Hearing the commotion, Zayed's sister Anam stepped in and a heated argument ensued between them. Soon, family members from both families joined the melee.
Rizwana's husband Yusuf and his two nephews Sonu and Tanveer defended Rizwana, while Imran shielded his younger brother. The fight turned violent with all four accused hitting Imran with wooden sticks. Being physically strong, Imran was able to withstand the beating, which angered the accused. Within minutes, Sonu brought a chopper and sliced Imran's stomach.
Imran was rushed to Bhabha Hospital in Bandra where he was pronounced dead by doctors.
Some eyewitnesses informed the BKC police about the incident, who arrested all the four accused.
"Imran got engaged last month, and was due to get married on January 11. It was to be the first marriage in the family. We were busy preparing for the marriage. Imran's father is in a state of shock, and his health has deteriorated after the incident. He was very excited about the marriage," said a family member.
DCP Zone 8 Namdev Chavan said, "All the four accused have been charged under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. They will be produced at the Bandra court today. The scuffle broke out over a game of cricket and turned deadly."
The deceased person's family and the accused are all residents of an old fish market in Bharat Nagar, BKC.