Drunken brawl leads to murder of youth

A 23-year-old youth, M. Maria Antony Ignatius Pradeep of Anthonyar Koil Street here, was allegedly murdered by a gang on Wednesday night.

A drunken brawl at a parotta stall led to the killing, sources said.

The incident was a sequel to a wordy quarrel that erupted between Pradeep, who worked in a shipping company here, and a gang of 12 persons at a parotta stall in Anthonyar Koil Street. In the ensuing fight, Pradeep assaulted Starwin of Lions Town, the prime accused in the murder, with a wooden log.

Later, Starwin and his 10 others waylaid Pradeep and one of the accused stabbed him with a knife on his left chest.

The gang also threatened Maria Anthony Bethalis Sritharan (26), brother of deceased and the complainant, with dire consequences, the sources said.

Thoothukudi Central police have filed a case under Sections 147, 148, 341, 294 (b), 302 and 506 (ii) of the IPC. The accused are yet to be arrested. Investigation is on.