A heated argument turned deadly in Dharmadaspur village on Sunday morning when Rajnu, a man with a criminal past, hacked his cousin Gulfaam, 38, to death with an axe, police reported.

The gruesome incident, under Kurebhar police station’s jurisdiction, unfolded after villagers spotted Rajnu roaming with the weapon. When Gulfaam, his maternal aunt’s son, confronted him, a furious argument erupted. Rajnu, losing control, struck Gulfaam repeatedly in the face, killing him instantly.

Villagers apprehended Rajnu as he attempted to flee, handing him over to the police. Rajnu, who has a criminal record—including an attack on a police team in Deoria—was released from jail just a year ago. The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem, and legal proceedings are underway, said SHO Sharadendu Dubey.

Heavy police deployment now blankets the village to prevent further unrest, with the situation currently under control.

Gulfaam leaves behind his wife, Ruby, and their one-year-old child, plunging the family into grief. The incident has rattled the community, spotlighting the dangers of unresolved disputes and the shadow of criminal recidivism in rural Uttar Pradesh.

Authorities are on high alert to ensure peace holds in the wake of this brutal killing.