Police arrested a man and his wife for allegedly stabbing their neighbour to death after he switched off the loud music playing late at night during Kali Puja celebrations in the Kusthia area of Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas district, officials said.

According to police, the victim, identified as Sanatan Naskar, a peon with a private company, had turned off a sound system at a pandal after an elderly neighbour suffering from a heart ailment requested him to do so. After switching off the music, Naskar headed home.

His neighbours, Pintu Saha and his wife, allegedly followed him to his house and confronted him for turning off the music. What began as a verbal argument escalated into a scuffle, during which Naskar’s mother was allegedly assaulted by the couple, police said.

When Naskar intervened to protect her, Pintu allegedly attacked him with a sharp weapon, stabbing him in the chest and hand before fleeing with his wife. Neighbours claimed the couple was accompanied by another man and woman.
Naskar was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The police said a case has been registered based on a complaint filed by Naskar’s family. As news of the murder spread, residents caught hold of Pintu and his wife while they were allegedly trying to flee and handed them over to Sonarpur police.

“Forensic samples have been collected from the spot, and further investigation is underway,” said a senior officer, adding that police are also searching for the other couple who allegedly accompanied the accused.”