A mutton merchant was hacked to death allegedly by his friends in DJ Halli police limits on Monday night. Mohammed Shafi, 42, had borrowed money from his friends but had failed to repay it. Syed Zameer and his two brothers came to Shafi’s shop demanding money.

A verbal duel ensued when Shafi expressed his inability to repay the money. The trio attacked the former with a weapon and fled the spot. Neighbours shifted an injured Shafi to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said.