Kolkata, Jan 21 (IANS): A 45-year-old man allegedly in an inebriated condition stabbed to death two brothers who were his neighbors at Singur in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Friday morning. Police arrested the man and are investigating the matter.

The incident happened in the Mirzapur-Bankipur area under Singur police station at 11 a.m.

When two brothers - Nirmal Malik (45) and his younger brother Raj Kumar Malik (38)-- were standing in front of a vegetable shop at Singur market, their neighbour Bhola Santra came and got engaged in a tiff.

According to an eyewitness they were speaking among themselves in a loud tone and suddenly Santra, who was drunk, took out a large knife from his pocket and started stabbing both the brothers on their throat. Before the people could come to the victims' rescue, both of them fell on the ground. The duo died before they could be rushed to Singur rural hospital.

People caught Santra who was trying to run away from the spot.

Police were informed and they arrested the man.

"Initial investigation revealed that Mondal and Santra are neighbours and they have some family disputes. The dispute between the Mondal brothers and Santra cropped up from there today morning and in a fit of temper, Santra stabbed them. We have arrested him and are trying to know the motive of the murder," a senior investigating officer said.