Man Kills Friend For Not Paying Back $18 Loan

A man has been accused of brutally killing his friend for not paying back the US$18 (1,500 Indian rupees) that the victim had borrowed from him in Uttar Pradesh, India on Wednesday, July 20.

The accused, identified only as 30-year-old Mahender alias "Chotu," has been arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly strangled his 27-year-old friend Awadesh with a pillow cover for not paying back a US$18 (1500 Indian rupees) loan, the Times Of India reported.

Local law enforcement was alerted of a person found unconscious in Sirhaul on July 20. When the officers reached the scene, they found Awadesh unresponsive on the ground and rushed him to a government hospital for treatment. However, he was later declared dead at the health facility.

The deceased reportedly had strangulation marks around his neck and bruises on his hands. The day after the murder, on July 21, the deceased was identified as Awadesh by the victim's cousin. Awadesh hailed from Uttar Pradesh and used to work as a security guard. Three days later, the police arrested Mahender in connection with the incident.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Mahender and Awadesh had been drinking alcohol together on July 19 night. However, an argument later ensued between the two regarding the money Awadesh owed the suspect. As their confrontation escalated, the accused allegedly suffocated Awadesh using a pillow cover and killed him. After strangling his friend to death, the accused immediately fled the scene.

Following the incident, a First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against Mahender at the Sector 18 police station under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

“The accused worked as a laborer. After getting drunk, he strangulated his friend to death,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Preet Pal Sangwan.

In a similar but unrelated incident, a man reportedly killed his friend by bashing a cement block against his head for not paying back the US$1.30 (100 Indian Rupees) that he borrowed from the suspect in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India on Friday, March. 4, Latin Times reported.

The victim, identified as Arjun Yashwant Singh Sarhar, who originally hailed from Rajasthan, reportedly owed some US$1.30 (100 Indian Rupees) to his friend Manoj Marajkole, 35, a resident of Girgaum, Mumbai. However, when the victim failed to repay the loan, Marajkole, in a fit of rage, allegedly picked up a cement block and bludgeoned his friend to death.

On Thursday, March 3, Marajkore and Sarhar reportedly drank together. During the drinking session, the two had a fight over the loan. After the argument, when Sarhar went to sleep, Marajkole allegedly decided to pick up a nearby cement block and began smashing it against Sarhar's head in the early hours of Friday, March. 4.

After bludgeoning Sarhar to death, Marajkole fled from the spot. However, he was arrested a couple of hours later and has been remanded in police custody till Tuesday, March. 8.