One Nihang was arrested on Sunday for allegedly stabbing a relative to death and injuring four others using his kirpan at Suraj Nagar, Tedi Road, Shimlapuri, officials said.

They added that Nirmal Singh, 50, was killed in the attack which arose from an old rivalry.

According to police, the accused, Jatinder Singh of Sangowal, escaped after the incident but was arrested later. The victim was a carpenter, police said.

According to the police, the condition of one of the victims, Manjit Singh, is considered serious and the other three, Vijay, Vishwajit and Balraj Singh, are stable.

Police said Nirmal Singh and the other victims were trying to intervene after the accused attacked his brother, Manjit Singh, with the kirpan.

Shimlapuri Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Balwinder Singh said that the accused and the victim are relatives and lived in the same neighbourhood. They used to accuse each other of “abusing and urinating at the main doors”, the SHO added.

He said that the accused and the victim had a fight over some issue in 2023, following which Nirmal Singh and Manjit Singh lodged a complaint and a first information report (FIR) was registered against Jatinder Singh.

Later, Jatinder and his family sold the house and moved to Sangowal village. About six months ago, Jatinder became Nihang, police said, adding that the accused used to visit Suraj Nagar to see other relatives in the area.

The SHO added that on Sunday, Jatinder appeared in Suraj Nagar and assaulted Manjit. The other victims tried to intervene, after which the accused also attacked them, he added.

He said Manjit and Nirmal suffered serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared the latter dead on arrival.

According to the inspector, a case of murder has been registered against the accused. The police are questioning the accused to know what instigated him to attack the victims, he added.