A 22-year-old man was murdered allegedly by some of his close relatives at Puthupalayam village in Ariyalur district on Sunday night. The police gave the name of the deceased as N. Raja of Puthupalayam. He was a lorry driver.

Police sources said the families of Raja and his relatives were neighbours at the same village and had a dispute over the pathway. A quarrel broke out on this issue between them on Sunday night and the relatives of Raja allegedly attacked him with a billhook killing him on the spot. Four persons — all relatives of the victim – have been detained in connection with the murder, said the police. The Ariyalur police are investigating.