Youth arrested for killing friend over meagre sum in Lucknow

Authorities in Lucknow's Bijnor police station area have arrested a youth identified as Birju in connection with the death of his acquaintance, officials said on Tuesday. The victim, known as Sachin or Raja, died after being subjected to electric shock, allegedly following a deliberate intoxication by the accused. According to investigators, Birju allegedly plied his friend with alcohol and, once the victim was rendered unconscious, exposed him to live electrical wires and metal cooler components to deliver a lethal current. The accused subsequently attempted to conceal the crime by abandoning the body outside a neighbour's residence to simulate an accident, police said. The motive behind the alleged murder was reportedly a sum of ₹2,250, according to preliminary investigations. The case has been registered and further inquiry is underway to establish additional circumstances surrounding the incident.