New Delhi, April 7 (IANS): Three persons were arrested for stabbing a man to death with a trident and knives in a temple, Delhi Police said on Friday.

The incident occurred on Thursday night at around 10 p.m. when the deceased, Permal, a resident of south Delhi's Dakshinpuri area, went to the temple with his wife.

The accused identified as R. Sriniwas, R. Shekhar and R. Nateshan have been arrested from their hideouts during late night raids, while one of their associates is still at large, police said.

"Permal, 30, visited the temple with his wife. Some of his friends, who were also inside the temple, got into a brawl over personal animosity with the accused men," Deputy Commissioner of Police Romil Baaniya said.

"When Permal intervened, Sriniwas, Shekhar, Nateshan and another associate attacked and stabbed him with a trident and knives over a dozen of times until he collapsed. His wife raised the alarm with the local residents and the police," he added.

Permal was taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre where he succumbed to his injuries, Baaniya said.

Permal, who worked as a car cleaner, had a fight with the accused over a trivial issue last year and had filed a police complaint against them.