A moment of obsession turned brutal when a 20-year-old Delhi resident allegedly slashed his friend in the neck last week after seeing him speak to a woman he was told to keep away from.The accused, Akshat Sharma, a resident of Pandav Nagar, was arrested late on Thursday. Sharma, who works as an ice cream vendor, is currently pursuing a BCom degree through open schooling, officers said.According to the police, the incident occurred on July 17 and came to light when a medico-legal case (MLC) was reported at Pandav Nagar police station regarding a young man who had suffered a serious throat injury.The victim, Harsh Bhati, said he was standing with a female friend when the accused, Akshat Sharma, approached suddenly and slashed his throat with a blade. Sharma fled the scene immediately after the attack, the police said. A case was registered under sections 109(1) (attempted murder) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and an investigation was launched.Sharma harboured intense jealousy and resentment after Bhati began talking to a woman he was “emotionally attached” to, officers said. Sharma had also repeatedly tried to persuade Bhati to keep away from the woman but the latter allegedly ignored the warnings. This is said to have driven Sharma into a frenzy of jealousy and anger.Initial attempts to locate Sharma at his residence proved unsuccessful as he had already fled, said the police. The police teams then intensified local intelligence-gathering efforts and conducted multiple inquiries in the surrounding area.Abhishek Dhania, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East, said, “Acting on a credible secret input received during the night, the team learned that the accused was expected to return home (on Thursday). A trap was laid, and officers successfully apprehended the accused when he arrived. During sustained interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the attack.”Story continues below this ad“The motive was purely personal, stemming from obsession, jealousy, and emotional frustration,” the DCP added.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd