The incident took place at Market No. 5 in the NIT area of Faridabad at around 7.30 p.m.

Eyewitnesses say that Mohammad Akram and Saleem, businessmen from Delhi's Seelampur, parked their car in front of Sonu Emporium in Market No. 5. Harmeet, son of shop owner Nanak Singh, objected to it.

``They asked Akram to remove his car from there. But Akram told him that he would leave after two minutes,'' said an eyewitness. However, Harmeet reportedly insisted that he must remove the car first. Both began to argue and later, exchange blows.

Soon other shopkeepers joined Harmeet in beating up Akram, says a police official. Akram's friend Saleem who tried to intervene was also beaten up.Witnesses say the shopkeepers dragged Akram, a well-built man, to the road, punched and kicked him and then began beating him with clubs and rods. When some of theother shopkeepers tried to save Akram, they were chased away, they say.

When Akram fell unconscious, the mob targeted Saleem, say the police.

Meanwhile, the police reached the spot and saved Saleem from the shopkeepers. Akram was rushed to the hospital by the police, but he died on the way. Saleem was admitted to B.K. Hospital in Faridabad. Harmeet was also admitted to the hospital.

Based on Saleem's statement, the Faridabad police have registered a case of murder against Nanak Singh, his sons Harmeet and Harnam and five others. The police have arrested Harmeet.

The shopkeepers in Market No. 5 kept their shutters down today in protest against the police registering a case of murder against them. They say that it was Akram and Saleem who beat them first. Akram and Saleem, residents of Seelampur, had gone to visit Kishan Bhatia and Rajesh Rawat, residents of NIT, regarding a land deal. The police say Akram was in real estate business.

Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Akil said: ``More personswill be arrested for the gruesome crime.'' He added it was the timely arrival of the police that saved the life of Saleem.