A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death by his three friends after a dispute arose over the transaction of money over a mobile phone in Gujarat’s Surat, police said. The accused, Harilal, was an autorickshaw driver and was killed on May 23, and the three accused were arrested.

The incident occurred when Harilal and his friends – Uttam alias Kalu Shakharam, Mohan Gosavi and Kiran alias Nagaraj Nimba Patil – had gone to visit the Mama Dev temple. Following that, an argument broke out between the friends over monetary transaction over the phone, after which the accused stabbed the victim.

Harilal suffered serious injuries due to the stabbing and was rushed to a nearby hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries.

Police then launched a manhunt and arrested the three accused on Sunday, two days after Harilal’s murder.

The accused and the victim were all residents of the Limbayat area in the city, police said.

(with inputs from Sanjay)