Police said Narender Mishra (38) and Kuldeep Bajpai (22) were stabbed several times and died before they could reach a hospital. Those injured in the incident are Narender's wife Vineeta Mishra, Jainath Bajpai and Pappu Mishra.

The families of the victims and the accused knew each other and their homes were within 15 metre radius of each other in I-Block, Jehangirpuri.

The accused Anil and Sunil are brothers, police said.

According to police, Narender and Kuldeep used to set up stalls at the weekly market in the area, where they sold jeans and other clothing material. On Saturday night, they had finished dinner when Anil went up to Jainath and “reminded him” of his daughter’s kidnapping case, police said.

A source said Jainath’s 14-year-old daughter had allegedly eloped with a boy of the locality. A kidnapping case in the regard had been registered. Police said it was this case that Anil was referring to.

“Anil went to Jainath with his brother Sunil and reminded him of the case, saying his daughter had brought shame to the family. This angered the victims, who retaliated. The situation went out of hand when the accused went to their house and brought out knives and sticks. They were joined by their family members," said a senior police officer.

Police said the entire incident lasted a few minutes. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Romil Baaniya said, “Inquiries revealed that both sides were under the influence of alcohol. Narender and Kuldeep were stabbed multiple times and sustained fatal injuries in their lungs, chest, abdomen and heart.”

Narender is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. Kuldeep married a year ago.

Pankaj Mishra, a relative of the victims and a witness to the incident, said, “There were too many people on their side. We were unprepared. They charged at us with knives and lathis and after the incident, fled in an Indica car. There was blood everywhere. We made a PCR call.”