Imphal, October 09 2010: In a ghastly incident, an allegedly lunatic man hacked to death a friend of his younger brother who was sleeping together with his brother on Friday night over a pinch of chewing tobacco (Khaini).

Police said, the incident occurred around 8.30 pm last night at Phaknung Mamang Leikai under Lamlai police station of Imphal East district. Police arrested the accused, who has been missing after committing the crime, today from an isolated hut in the paddy fields.

The accused person has been identified as Lairellakpam Santa (29), son of Late L Biren of Phaknung Mamang Leikai, while the victim youth has been identified as Seram Sunil (24), son of S Dinachandra of same locality.

Local reports said that Santa, who is suffering from mental disorder hacked Sunil in the neck three times with a machete while the victim was in the bed with his younger brother Sunderjit.

Sunil succumbed to his injuries on the way to JNIMS Hospital.

Doctors declared him brought dead last night.

Police as well as local reports said that yesterday evening while Sunil and Sunderjit were in the bed of the latter, Santa asked for a pinch of khaini at least three times.

Sunil reportedly gave Santa the empty container to show that it has been finished.

Angry over the offering of an empty container, Santa left the room only to return with a machete in his hand.

He then struck Sunil who was lying on the bed along with Sunderjit at least three times and left the room.

He then fled and disappeared in the darkness.

Police, who registered a case, and villagers with deadly weapons in their hands launched separate manhunt to catch the alleged murderer.

The local villagers also made an attempt to burn down the house of the accused but police stopped them before causing any damage to the house.

Later today, a team of Imphal East district police arrested the culprit from a hut in the paddy fields near the village around 9 am today.

They also recovered the machete which he used in hacking Sunil.

But the dead body is still lying at the JNIMS morgue till today.

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