Youth stabbed and shot dead by friend over love affair dispute in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur: A quarrel over a smartphone, rooted in a love affair, escalated into a fatal attack late last night, resulting in the murder of 22-year-old Pankaj Majhi. The incident occurred at the densely populated Shaldih Bustee, under the jurisdiction of Adityapur thana, at around 10:30 PM. Pankaj, who was riding home from Bistupur on his bike, was attacked by his friend Krishna Gope and two associates near the National Electronics showroom.

The assailants first stabbed Pankaj and then shot him in the head, leading to fatal injuries. The victim was rushed to Tata Main Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

According to police sources, the conflict between Pankaj and Krishna started two days ago over a broken smartphone. Pankaj’s sister, Anjali, informed the police that her brother had an argument with Krishna, which likely triggered the violent attack.

Adityapur thana OC, Rajiv Kumar Singh, immediately launched an investigation into the murder. By Friday noon, the police were able to piece together the events leading up to the crime, though all the accused, including Krishna, remain absconding.

Both Pankaj and Krishna, who had prior criminal records, were once close friends, often compared to the iconic duo Jai and Veeru from the movie Sholay, according to the OC. The quarrel allegedly started when Pankaj asked Krishna to confront his girlfriend on his behalf due to a souring relationship. When Krishna later informed Pankaj about the conversation, Pankaj flew into a rage and smashed Krishna’s smartphone in front of others.

Despite offering to compensate Krishna with ₹10,000 for the broken phone, the apology came too late. Humiliated by the public incident, Krishna allegedly sought revenge, which culminated in the brutal murder of his former friend.

OC Singh confirmed that efforts are underway to arrest Krishna and his accomplices. “The altercation over the phone and Krishna’s public humiliation led him to conspire the attack. We are actively pursuing the suspects,” he said.