LUCKNOW: A 32-year-old man was killed after a fight broke out while a group of youths were playing Ludo under the Purnia flyover in Lucknow’s Aliganj area on Saturday evening, police said.The deceased was identified as Rahul Awasthi alias Abhishek Kumar Awasthi, a resident of Gairolli in Sitapur. According to police, Rahul was playing Ludo with his friend Pradeep and some other youths around 5:51 pm when an argument escalated into a violent clash.Police said Pradeep (40) allegedly went to a roadside massage shop, picked up a pair of scissors and repeatedly attacked Rahul in the chest and abdomen. Rahul sustained multiple injuries and collapsed in a pool of blood. The assailant then fled the spot. He was later arrested by a police team.The incident took place near the Aliganj-Madiaon police station border, following which personnel from both police stations reached the spot. ACP Shashi Prakash Mishra also inspected the scene.A witness, Salim, said several youths had gathered under the flyover to play Ludo and were also consuming alcohol. An argument broke out among them, following which three to four men fled. A blood-soaked youth was subsequently found lying at the spot, prompting the witness to alert the police.Police said personnel who reached the spot initially shifted the injured man to a hospital, following which his family took him to KGMU for further treatment. Rahul later died during treatment.However, Rahul’s family has raised questions over the response of the police at the scene. His maternal cousin Shivam alleged that when family members reached the spot, Rahul was bleeding heavily and struggling for his life, while the police personnel present there were only monitoring the situation.The family alleged that an ambulance was not called and that they ultimately took Rahul to KGMU in a rented auto-rickshaw.Shivam said Rahul had been married for around five years and had a four-year-old son.Additional DCP, North Zone, BN Singh, said police were investigating the circumstances leading to the clash and that the arrested accused was being interrogated.
