India: Flatmate stabs Kolkata youth to death after he refused to share water bottle

A Kolkata boy was brutally stabbed to death by his flatmate after the 18-year-old victim refused to share his water bottle with the accused. The incident was reported Monday (May 6) when the accused, 30-year-old Akash Hari, was having a party and consuming drugs on open terrace with his friends.

The incident took place at the KMC Sweeper Quarters on the UC Banerjee Road in the Phoolbagan area.

Police said the duo had developed animosity over a period of time over who gets to sleep on the open terrace as the city battles with intense heatwave. As per a report by the Times of India, the victim, Nitish Rabidas, had come to his elder sister’s house in Kolkata and had taken up a job here.

Also read: Chinese EV maker Leapmotor plans entry into India in collaboration with Stellantis

Additional CP (I) Murlidhar Sharma said Hari carried sharp objects like knives and cutters to the terrace and then committed the murder.

Police said they have arrested the accused and recovered the weapon used in the murder.

“Just after midnight, there was a fight between Rabidas and Hari over who will sleep in the open rooftop. Hari was angry when he did not get to sleep on the terrace. He was also upset when he did not get the water bottle,” DC (Eastern Suburban) Gaurav Lal was quoted as saying by TOI.

Also read: India terms Nijjar investigation results Canada’s internal matter; Ottawa notifies Delhi of arrests

After midnight, Hari went to the terrace and threw Das’s bottle on the terrace, which snapped him out of the sleep.

“Hari suddenly threw away the water bottle of Rabidas to the ground. The victim was woken up and during the quarrel that ensued Hari stabbed him with a cannabis-chopping knife. The victim was declared brought dead at the NRS Hospital,” said DC Lal.

The victim’s body was later handed over to his family after postmortem.

(With inputs from agencies)