Shopkeeper Kills Teen Boy With Sword After Argument Over Wet Matchbox

A 19-year-old boy was killed by a grocery shop owner and his aides following an argument over a wet matchbox that the victim had purchased from the suspect.

The deceased teen, identified as Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Bhai Manj Road in Amritsar, India was murdered Tuesday night, Nov. 11, after the accused shopkeeper, Sarabjit Singh alias Shabba, and his two sons—Dhyan Singh and Bhagwan Singh attacked him with swords following a verbal spat over a wet matchbox.

According to the police, the victim’s brother, Lovepreet Singh approached the authorities to report the murder and file a complaint against the suspect and his kin.

“On Tuesday night, my brother brought a matchbox from Sarabjit’s shop. The matchbox was wet. When Gurpreet went to Sarabjit’s shop again to return the matchbox, the shopkeeper refused,” Lovepreet said in his complaint, the Hindustan Times reported.

The shopkeeper reportedly verbally abused Gurpreet, and in a fit of rage, he abused him back, Lovepreet said.

A heated argument broke out between them, which came to an end after onlookers intervened. Gurpreet then returned home, his brother told police.

Later that night, the accused shopkeeper, his sons, and four unknown youths, armed with sharp weapons, came to Gurpreet’s home and threatened to kill him.

Gurpreet was not home at that time, so his family members somehow managed to pacify the angry group and send them back.

When Gurpreet came home, the family members told him about Shabba’s visit and his threats.

Gurpreet then went to Shabba’s house to ask him why they were clinging on to such a small issue, angered by the confrontation, the suspects allegedly attacked the teen with swords.

Gurpreet died at the scene.

“A quarrel ensued after which Sarabjit and his two sons attacked my brother with sharp-edged weapons. He died on the spot and the accused fled the scene,” he said.

The police have registered a case against Shabba, his two sons, and four unidentified persons.

“Some say the incident took place due to the use of cigarettes by the accused while some say it was due to matchbox. Our investigation is on and the accused will be arrested soon,” Assistant commissioner of police (ACP-South) Mangal Singh said.

Sources in the Police Department said that Gurpreet was known to them as he was facing several criminal cases, the details of which weren’t released by the authorities.