Nagpur: What began as a minor road accident ended in tragedy after a 48-year-old man was brutally stabbed to death by a group of assailants in Kapilnagar late Friday night. The police have booked eight persons for murder and launched a manhunt to trace them.

According to police, the complainant Pintu Suresh Rajput (32), a resident of Nari Basti near Ganesh Mandir, had gone on a picnic to Mansar along with his friends on October 25. After returning to Nagpur around 9.30 pm, Rajput dropped two of his companions near Takshashila Ghat and continued towards home with his friend Rajesh Ishwas Orekar (48).

While passing through MHADA Colony near Building No. 10, Rajput’s car accidentally hit a parked e-rickshaw, causing minor damage. The e-rickshaw owner engaged in a heated argument with Rajput, during which a group of men identified as Harshal, Tabba, Lucky, Rabha and four others arrived at the spot and began assaulting Rajput and Orekar.

In a bid to escape, Orekar tried to flee the scene but the accused chased him down and attacked him with a knife, inflicting severe injuries. He was rushed to Mayo Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Acting on Rajput’s complaint, Kapilnagar Police registered a case under Sections 103(1), 189(2), 190, 191(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 135 and 37(1)(3) of the Maharashtra Police Act.

Police are conducting further investigation, while efforts are on to trace the absconding accused.