Two men have been arrested by Toopran police in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old man earlier this week. The accused, identified as Afsar, 34, and Santosh, 39, both residents of Allapur in Hyderabad, were taken into custody on Thursday, July 24, two days after the killing.

The victim, Mohammad Sabil, also a resident of Allapur, was allegedly murdered by the duo, who attacked him with a boulder in a remote area off the Toopran–Narsapur road.

According to an official from the Toopran police, the crime arose from a personal dispute involving a family member. On June 30, Sabil had allegedly eloped with Afsar’s minor cousin. A missing person’s complaint was filed by the girl’s family at the Allapur police station, following which the couple was traced and counselled by the police.

Despite the intervention, tensions between Afsar and Sabil escalated. “Afsar confronted Sabil and demanded that he delete photographs of his cousin from his phone. When Sabil refused, a scuffle broke out,” an official said.

Afsar, with the help of his friend Santosh, allegedly kidnapped Sabil and took him to an isolated location where they killed him by repeatedly striking him with a boulder.

Following a complaint from the victim’s family, police launched a probe and traced the two. Further investigation is underway.