Noida: Three suspects, who allegedly stabbed a 20-year-old man to death and also injured his friend on Wednesday night to avenge a recent slapping incident over a monetary dispute in Noida’s Sector 63 locality, were arrested on Friday, police said. .

Investigation revealed that the deceased, Ashu Kumar, a native of Arawal, Bihar, residing in Chotpur Colony in Sector 63, had lent $3,000 to one of the suspects, Parul (only name), 19 years old. But when he asked for his return before Diwali, a verbal argument ensued between the two and he slapped the suspect publicly, leading to the murder.

The suspects Parul, a resident of Chhajarsi Colony, Sector 63; Amit Paswan, 20, and Akram (only name), 22, both residents of Chotpur Colony, Sector 63, were arrested from Chhajarsi area around 1.30 pm on Friday, officials said.

On Wednesday, around 8:30 pm, Ashu was chatting with his neighbor Vishal Kumar, 21, near their houses when the suspects approached them and allegedly started a fight over the slap incident. While Ashu and his friend Vishal were protesting, Parul allegedly took out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Ashu three or four times in the abdomen and legs, they added.

Police said when Vishal intervened to save his friend, he was also stabbed. “When Ashu’s family came to know about the fight, they rushed to the spot and both the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, from where Ashu was referred to another hospital where doctors declared him brought dead,” said Avdhesh Pratap Singh, police station office. of the Sector. 63.

Ashu is survived by his parents and two siblings, including a brother and a sister, police said, adding that his friend Vishal is hospitalized and his condition is stable.

Following a complaint from Ashu’s family, a case under sections 103 (murder) and 109 (attempt to murder) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at Sector 63 police station and four teams were formed to trace to the fugitives.

“Investigation revealed that before Diwali, Ashu asked Parul for money at a market. While Parul sought more time, Ashu became furious. He verbally abused Parul and slapped him,” said Rajeev Kumar Gupta, deputy commissioner of police, central Noida, adding that later Parul planned, along with his friends, to kill Ashu and took revenge.

“It was also revealed that another suspect, Sachin Nagar, 20, was also part of the conspiracy and murder. Efforts are being made to capture him,” the ACP added.

The police seized three knives from the suspects and cases such as Excise Act and Gambling Act were registered against Akram at the Sector 63 police station. A fresh investigation is underway.