Painter killed in dispute over Rs 200, 2 arrested

Meerut: A 44-year-old painter was murdered over an unpaid Rs 200 in Budaun’s Kabulpura locality late Sunday night after two labourers allegedly cornered him to demand the remaining amount from a Rs 500 loan and one of them hit him near the neck with a heavy padlock tied to an iron chain, police said. Two accused were arrested and sent to jail.The deceased was identified as Mohd Shahid. Police said he had borrowed Rs 500 from local residents Mohd Naeem and Wasif Khan, both labourers, and had already returned Rs 300. Around 10.30pm on Sunday, the two allegedly stopped Shahid and demanded the remaining Rs 200, leading to a heated argument.An eyewitness told police that as the confrontation escalated, Naeem allegedly attacked Shahid with a heavy padlock attached to an iron chain. The blow landed near the base of Shahid’s neck, causing him to collapse with critical injuries. He died shortly after the assault.Both suspects fled the spot before police arrived. Police rushed Shahid to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead, and later sent the body for post-mortem.