A 25-year-old history-sheeter was arrested for murdering his friend during a drunken brawl and dumping his body in the Retteri near Kolathur.

The police identified the deceased as Karthik alias Kodu Karthik, a painter from Kolathur. He had several criminal cases pending against him in the Kolathur and Rajamangalam police limits. His body was recovered from the lake by the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services personnel and sent to the Government Stanley Hospital for a post-mortem.

Investigation revealed that a few days ago, Karthik had quarrelled with his friend Vignesh after throwing away his mobile phone while drinking alcohol.

Holding a grudge, Vignesh attacked Karthik on Tuesday night when the two were drinking on the lake bund. Vignesh stabbed Karthik with a knife and assaulted him with a broken bottle. Vignesh then pushed Karthik into the water and fled the spot.

Youth killed in drunken brawl

Nirala Kumar, 19, of Bihar, was murdered in Madhavaram on Wednesday. He worked at a private firm and lived with four friends near the Madhavaram Municipal Office. The police said the group began to quarrel while consuming liquor.

Nirala was attacked with a broken bottle and died on the spot. A search is on for the suspects.