Qatar police have opened an investigation into the case of a 26-year-old man who was reportedly killed by his friend last week, a representative of the Indian embassy has confirmed to Doha News.

Shanthi Shyam Krishnan Nair, a 43-year-old man who worked as an air-conditioning employee in Qatar, reportedly struck colleague Mohammed Rizwan ul Haq with an iron rod at their company accommodation in Wukair, causing his demise on April 18, the official said, asking to remain anonymous. Both men are Indian expats.

On Monday, the Gulf Times reported that the accused went into hiding for more than 24 hours after the crime. Co-workers found him on Saturday evening, within the same compound that housed several other residential units.

Nair hails from the Thrikannapuram district of Trivandrum, Kerala and Haq was a native of the Sindhri district in Madhya Pradesh. The embassy declined to name the company they worked for.

What happened

Speaking to Doha News, and embassy official who had been briefed by the men’s employers said that Nair had a drinking problem and was warned earlier by the company to control his alcohol intake. However, the official declined to speculate if the men were drinking at the time of the killing.

Many community members have reacted with shock at Haq’s death. Murders are rare in Qatar, especially between good friends, which the two men were, the official said, adding:

“These are very unusual and rarest of the rare cases. We are all human beings. How a person reacts to a particular moment – it is difficult for anyone to predict.”

Many questions remain about what exactly happened between the two men. What is known is that Haq and Nair had an altercation earlier in the day on April 18 that required the intervention of their colleagues, according to the embassy official.

Later in the afternoon on that day, when Haq had gone to dry his mattress and clothes at the rooftop of the villa compound, the accused had allegedly followed him and struck him with the rod.

Since it was Good Friday, there were only four people present at the accommodation when the incident took place.

The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Doha News has learned that Haq’s body is still in the Hamad Hospital mortuary, awaiting police clearance and autopsy results. He is survived by his parents and older brother.

Meanwhile, the company is currently making arrangements for a family member of the victim to take Haq’s body home.

The embassy official said they are awaiting the official police report, and that Nair’s case will go the public prosector’s office. The 43-year-old is married with two children, but his family lives in India.

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