Man killed at liquor shop after dispute over 10 extra for a bottle

Meerut: A dispute over charging an extra Rs 10 for a booze bottle turned into a violent clash in which a 30-year-old man was beaten to death at a country liquor shop located under Gagalhedi police station of Saharanpur district on Tuesday night. The victim Anil Kumar was from Dinarpur village, police said on Wednesday.
A police officer said that after Anil bought his bottle, another customer, Pushpendra Kumar, refused to pay the additional Rs 10 charged by the salesman.Anil, however, sided with the salesman, triggering an argument between Pushpendra and Anil. The quarrel soon turned violent, with many other men supporting Pushpendra, and Anil was badly thrashed by the group.
When the shop employee, Kuldeep Kumar, tried to intervene, he too was beaten and suffered severe head injuries, said police.
"Both the victims were rushed to hospital in critical condition. Anil succumbed to his injuries and Kuldeep is still under intensive care. Police and excise departments are investigating the matter to verify the claims that the liquor shop was charging more than the MRP," said SP (city) Abhimanyu Manglik.
SHO of Gagalhedi police station, Pramod Kumar Singh, told TOI that the accused and the deceased were friends. "A few suspects have been detained and efforts are on to arrest the main accused, Pushpendra, who is absconding," said Singh.
An FIR under BNS section 103 (murder) was registered against Pushpendra and some unidentified people, said SP Manglik.