Bantwal: Brother-in-law assaults, kills man over trivial domestic dispute

Bantwal: A trivial domestic tussle turned into murder when a man died after being thrashed by his brother-in-law at Punjalkatte here.

The deceased has been identified as Keshava Poojary, a reside of Thenka-Kajekaru village.

Keshava, a cook at a hotel in Mangaluru, returned home on January 31 and handed over his salary to his wife Prema. But, when he asked her to return Rs 100, she refused and there was a quarrel between the two. Prema told about the incident to her brother Ashok alias Chandappa Poojary (45), a resident of Maninalkuru village.

An angry Ashok severely beat up and injured Keshava. A while later Keshava developed chest discomfort and his mother Leela took him to the government hospital in Bantwal for treatment. She also registered a complaint at the police station about the assault.

But on February 8, Keshava’s health further deteriorated and he died while being taken to the hospital. Later an autopsy, done at KS Hegde Hospital, revealed that Keshava died due to the injuries sustained in the assault.

Based on the medical report, Ashok was apprehended from a hotel in Bajpe on February 21 and handed over to the Punjalkatte police.