A Nihang was arrested on Sunday for allegedly stabbing a relative to death and injuring four others using his kirpan in Suraj Nagar, Tedi Road, Shimlapuri, officials said.

They added that 50-year-old Nirmal Singh was killed in the attack that stemmed from an old rivalry.

According to the police, the accused, Jatinder Singh of Sangowal, escaped after the incident but was apprehended later. The victim was a carpenter, police said.

According to the police, the condition of one of the victims, Manjit Singh, has been stated to be serious, while the other three, Vijay, Vishwajit and Balraj Singh, are stable.

Police said Nirmal Singh and the other victims tried to intervene after the accused assaulted his brother, Manjit Singh, with the kirpan.

Shimlapuri Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Balwinder Singh said the accused and the victim are relatives and live in the same neighbourhood. They used to accuse each other of “abusing and urinating on their main gates,” the SHO added.

He said the accused and the victim had an argument over an issue in 2023 following which Nirmal Singh and Manjit Singh filed a complaint and a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Jatinder Singh.

Later, Jatinder and his family sold the house and moved to Sangowal village. About six months ago, Jatinder became a Nihang, the police said, adding that the accused used to visit Suraj Nagar to see other relatives in the area.

The SHO added that on Sunday, Jatinder appeared in Suraj Nagar and attacked Manjit. The other victims tried to intervene, after which the accused assaulted them as well, he added.

He said Manjit and Nirmal sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital where doctors declared the latter dead on arrival.

According to the inspector, a case of murder has been registered against the accused. Police are interrogating the accused to know what prompted him to assault the victims, he added.