Labourer killed in Delhi after dispute over salt while cooking

A 30-year-old man was killed following a heated argument over the amount of salt being added to a meal in southeast Delhi’s Amar Colony on Wednesday night. The incident unfolded when two labourers, who were cooking together, got into a dispute that quickly turned violent.

According to police, the victim, identified as Rakesh, a native of Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, was attacked by his fellow worker, Lalji, after a disagreement while preparing food. The quarrel started when Lalji reportedly advised Rakesh to be cautious while adding salt to the vegetables. Offended by the remark, which he perceived as a slight on his cooking skills, Rakesh lashed out, and the situation escalated rapidly.

In a fit of rage, Lalji allegedly picked up broken glass shards and repeatedly struck Rakesh, inflicting fatal injuries. When police arrived at the scene following a PCR call at around 9:35 pm, they found Rakesh’s lifeless body and Lalji lying nearby with injuries to his stomach and thigh.


Eyewitnesses Tejilal, who made the call, and Ramjeevan, both labourers at the same under-construction building, informed police that the two men hailed from the same village and often cooked together at the site.

Lalji was rushed to AIIMS, where he underwent surgery. He is reported to be in stable condition and remains under medical supervision.

Police have registered a case and an investigation is underway.

This is not an isolated case of violence over trivial matters in the capital. Last month, a man in southeast Delhi’s Pul Prahladpur was murdered for refusing to share a bidi. In another incident in February, a 60-year-old man was stabbed to death in Sadar Bazar, North Delhi, following a dispute over giving way to a group of boys.

[Inputs from TOI]