A YOUNG Tamil father from Harrow was stabbed to death at a child's birthday party in South London.

Akilakumar Kanthasamy, 28, was stabbed through the heart at the New Horizon Centre in South Lodge Avenue, Mitcham, late on Saturday night.

A fight had broken out at a party after a traditional naming ceremony for a two-year-old Tamil child.

Police were called to reports of a fight at the community centre at 11.40pm, but Mr Kanthasamy was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family have been informed and a post-mortem examination took place at St George’s Hospital, in Tooting.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne, who is leading the murder hunt, said: "I am appealing to anyone who was in or around the South Lodge Avenue area on Saturday night and who may have seen or heard anything around the time of the incident to call our incident room."

Anyone with information can call 0208 721 4906, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the murder and is being questioned by detectives.