Trichy: A 27-year-old man murdered his co-worker over ongoing enmity near Lalgudi in Trichy district on Monday night.
The deceased was identified as R Ravindra Babu from Keelamanakkal village in Lalgudi taluk.
Police sources said that Babu, and the accused N Kamalesh, 27, were once friends and had worked as loadmen at a govt paddy procurement centre in Lalgudi six months ago, where a money dispute arose between them.
The rivalry worsened during Diwali when a quarrel over bursting crackers turned violent, leading Babu and his elder brother Rajesh Babu to allegedly attack and injure Kamalesh. Following Kamalesh's complaint, Lalgudi police registered a case against the brothers, deepening the enmity.
On Monday night, as Ravindra Babu stood near Keelamanakkal railway crossing, Kamalesh allegedly attacked him with a sharp hook, causing fatal injuries. Babu died on the spot.
Lalgudi police sent the body to Trichy govt hospital for autopsy, and registered a murder case. They arrested Kamalesh, produced him before a magistrate and remanded him in Trichy Central Prison.