A dispute over unpaid debt between two friends escalated into violence, resulting in the fatal stabbing of one of them at Anjumoorthy Mangalam near here on Thursday night.

Manu Kalliyamkadu, 24, sustained fatal neck injuries after being stabbed by his friend Vishnu, 23, during a physical altercation between the two. The incident occurred around midnight.

Police said both of them were drunk. Manu had reportedly borrowed ₹6,000 from Vishnu. His failure to return the money led to the quarrel and the fatal stabbing.

Although friends rushed Manu to Government Taluk Hospital at Alathur, his life could not be saved. Police arrested Vishnu and was remanded in judicial custody.