A 34-year-old was stabbed to death allegedly during an argument over the bursting of fireworks in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Pavithran, a resident of Kaladipet in north Chennai, was an animal welfare activist, according to The Times of India. He was previously employed as a pharmaceutical sales representative.
He was on his way to see a friend when he came across a local resident, identified by police as Balaji, and his friends setting off fireworks on Vanniyar Street.
Pavithran, who was on a motorcycle, was reportedly hit by some of the fireworks, prompting him to stop and confront the men.
In the ensuing melee, Pavithran allegedly slapped one of the men accompanying Balaji.
This enraged Balaji, who pulled out a knife and stabbed Pavithran, police said. The activist abandoned his ride and attempted to flee, but Balaji chased him down and attacked him again, killing him.
Police later registered a murder case and arrested Balaji and his alleged accomplices, identified by local media as Surya, 27, and Kishore, 28.
Another man who was with Balaji’s group, identified as Madan, 27, sustained injuries to his hands while attempting to intervene. He was admitted to a local hospital for treatment.
In a separate incident, an off-duty soldier deployed with the president of India’s bodyguards, was critically injured after being shot in the head during a dispute over fireworks in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Saurabh Tomar, 26, and his brothers were setting off fireworks outside their home in Baghpat to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali when they got into an argument with two local men called Dheeraj and Monu, police said.
The argument escalated and Dheeraj allegedly pulled out a locally made pistol and opened fire. A bullet struck a wall, ricocheted and hit Tomar in the head, just behind his ear, according to NDTV. As the firing attracted a crowd, the suspects fled.
Tomar had joined the Indian army in 2021 and was last posted at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace in Delhi. He was on leave to celebrate Diwali with his family at his village. He is part of the forces that guard president Droupadi Murmu.
He underwent surgery to remove the bullet and remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Meerut city.
Police are investigating the matter.
In a separate incident, a rare Greater Adjutant Stork died in the city of Guwahati on Diwali night, the Telegraph reported, frightened by the firecrackers. The bird was seen flying around in panic before it collided with an electric wire and died, the report said.
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