India, Sept. 23 -- LUCKNOW A 22-year-old Muslim youth, Ali Abbas, was battered to death in Lucknow's Saadatganj area following a violent showdown over his relationship with a 21-year-old woman. The couple, who had been in love for four years, had plans to wed, but what unfolded late Monday night was far from a romantic proposal.

Invited to the woman's home by her brothers under the guise of a discussion about their marriage, Abbas was confronted by her brothers - Himalaya Prajapati, 26, Sonu Prajapati, and Saurabh Prajapati, 30. In a horrifying turn of events, he was assaulted with sticks and struck on the head with bricks, leaving him in a pool of blood, stated Lucknow Police.

DCP (west) Vishwajeet Srivastava said: "The police station ...