Kolkata, July 7 (IANS) A 17-year-old Class 10 student was allegedly hacked to death over an old dispute linked to a football match in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, with the police arresting three youths in connection with the murder, officials said on Tuesday.

The deceased, identified as Prosenjit Biswas, was a resident of the Fultala area in Baruipur. According to his family members, he had a heated argument with a group of local youths a few days ago over a football game in a field at Fultala.

The local residents alleged that the accused had been planning to take revenge since then.

According to the preliminary investigation, the three accused allegedly called Prosenjit and one of his friends to the Palpara area on Monday. An argument reportedly broke out between the two groups, following which the accused allegedly attacked the duo with sharp weapons.

Eyewitnesses said that Prosenjit suffered a severe chest injury during the assault. His friend, who tried to intervene, was also attacked and sustained serious injuries.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the accused allegedly rushed the injured teenagers to Baruipur Sub-District Hospital. However, doctors said that Prosenjit succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment. His injured friend is undergoing treatment at the hospital.

News of the teenager’s death triggered outrage among family members, relatives and local residents, who gathered at the hospital premises. Tension flared after the accused reportedly took shelter inside the police aid post at the hospital, with an angry crowd demanding that they be handed over. The police intervened and shifted the accused to a secure location to prevent any untoward incident.

Confirming the arrests, Baruipur Police District Sub-Divisional Police Officer Abhishek Ranjan said the attack appeared to have stemmed from an earlier dispute over a football match. He said all three accused have been arrested and are being questioned. The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is underway. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

The incident comes at a time when Baruipur has already been under the spotlight following the alleged sexual assault and gang rape of a minor girl.

–IANS

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