LUCKNOW: City police solved a blind murder case within 72 hours, arresting 2 friends of a youth who was brutally killed following a drunken argument over buying alcohol.The incident occurred on Jan 7 in Sushant Golf City and the body was later found dumped and partially burnt near Bhagirathi Enclave.

Investigations revealed that Sachin Tiwari, a resident of Nagram, went to the house of his friend Nihal Balmiki in Rajni Khand, Aashiana, for a drink. When the liquor ran out, an argument broke out over who would arrange more alcohol and cigarettes. The dispute soon escalated into violence. According to police, in a fit of rage, the accused struck Sachin on the head with a flower pot. As he collapsed, his throat was allegedly slit with a knife, killing him on the spot. “To conceal the crime, Nihal called his cousin Karan Balmiki for help. The body was first wrapped in a bedsheet, then packed in plastic and transported on a scooter,” said DCP South Zone, Nipun Agarwal. “When they failed to procure petrol in a bottle, they siphoned fuel from the scooter using a muffler and poured it over the body before setting it on fire to destroy evidence,” added DCP. Police said Nihal’s mother allegedly helped cover the body and clean the crime scene. She, along with another associate, is currently absconding. The partially burnt body was recovered on Jan 10. Acting on technical surveillance, CCTV footage, and interrogation, police arrested Nihal Balmiki and Karan Balmiki on Wednesday and recovered the murder weapon, a Honda Activa scooter, and 2 mobile phones.