Man Kills Neighbor With Axe After Argument Over Beating Pet Dog

A man killed his neighbor with an axe after an argument over his pet dog in New Delhi.

Suresh, 29, and his family were angry that his neighbor, 46-year-old Mahajan, had beaten their pet dog for defecating in front of the latter's house Friday.

A police officer quoted Suresh as saying, “When the dog tried to enter Mahajan’s house after defecating in front of it, Mahajan and his family used a stick to thrash the dog.”

The following day, Suresh’s parents lashed out at Mahajan and his wife over the issue.

“They blamed us for killing the dog. Soon, it turned into a quarrel between my husband and Suresh’s father. We intervened and ended the verbal duel,” Mahajan’s wife said, local daily the Hindustan Times reported.

A while later, Suresh learned about the fight and was angry that his neighbor misbehaved with his father.

“Threatening to teach my husband a lesson for misbehaving with his father, Suresh rushed into house and came back with an axe. Without any further warning, he swung the axe on my husband’s head,” Mahajan’s wife said.

Mahajan collapsed and he was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to injuries Monday. Meanwhile, Suresh fled from the spot with the axe but was caught a few hours later in the same neighborhood after a passerby informed the police. They recovered the weapon. Suresh was initially charged with attempt to murder which was later changed into a case of murder following Mahajan’s death.

The case was ongoing. The condition of the dog was, however, not known.

The incident came a few months after another dog owner fatally shot a man for allegedly throwing stones at his pet in New Delhi. The man was passing by the house of the accused when he heard a dog barking at him. He then started hurling stones at the animal after it allegedly tried to attack him. Soon, the dog’s owner, who saw him hitting the animal with stones, rushed into the house and brought a gun. He then shot the victim following an argument. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead.