In a chilling case of friendship turning fatal over a suspected love rivalry, police in Kathua have arrested a 19-year-old youth for the brutal daylight murder of his close friend, 18-year-old Nakul Singh.
The accused, identified as Parth Verma alias Sumit, allegedly bludgeoned Nakul to death with a cricket bat inside the victim's home in Ward No. 10, near Rajbagh, Kathua, on May 6. Nakul's younger brother, 16-year-old Nikhil Singh, was also critically injured in the attack and remains on ventilator support at AIIMS Jammu.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to police, the accused visited Nakul Singh's house around 11:40 AM on the day of the incident and even made a phone call to another friend using Nakul's mobile phone before the situation escalated. A heated argument broke out between the two over a girl, exposing what police described as a "love angle" behind the murder.
"The argument quickly escalated into a physical altercation driven by jealousy and personal rivalry. In a fit of rage, the accused allegedly picked up a cricket bat lying inside the room and struck Nakul Singh on the head, killing him on the spot," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua Mohita Sharma told media.
The violence did not stop there. When Nakul's younger brother Nikhil entered the house during the attack, the accused allegedly panicked and repeatedly assaulted him with the same cricket bat in an apparent attempt to eliminate an eyewitness. The accused then fled the scene, leaving behind the blood-stained cricket bat and taking away the victim's mobile phone.
Case Cracked Through Technical Surveillance
SSP Sharma said the case was cracked using technical surveillance, including tracking the deceased's missing mobile phone.
"After registering the FIR, multiple police teams were constituted. During the investigation, the missing iPhone of the deceased was traced with the help of technical inputs. Sustained interrogation of suspects led to a confession by the accused. The stolen mobile phone was also recovered on his disclosure, in the presence of a magistrate," she said.
The murder weapon has since been recovered and forensic evidence from the crime scene has been collected.
Justice Will Be Delivered Through Conviction
Police said the investigation is being strengthened to ensure strict punishment for the accused. "Justice will be delivered only through conviction," SSP Sharma asserted.
The shocking crime has sent shockwaves across Kathua town, with residents expressing grief and outrage over the senseless killing of a young man at the hands of his own friend.
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