Man charred to death by employer: Little details known about the victim

Uppinangady: Details of the origins of the man, who was killed after being set on fire by his employer in Mulihitlu under Pandeshwar police station limits in Mangaluru, still remain unknown.

It is now learnt that Jagan alias Jaggu (earlier reported as Gajnana) was first spotted in Uppinangady during the Covid lockdown period in 2020.

Just before the Covid pandemic hit, a destitute and starving Jagan was begging for food and shelter at a weekly bazaar at 34 Nekkiladi near Uppinangady. Taking pity on him, a local vegetable vendor named Bashir employed him as a labourer for loading and unloading goods.

He did the job well and soon became a regular for work. later when the lockdown was announced, he worked when the shops opened and ate meals donated by people.

As per the locals who knew him, he seemed to be a tribal with no concept of money. He was content as long as he got good food and nice clothes. He spoke very little, they said.

He had told his name to be Jagan and his native to be in Sundargarh in Assam, they said. But on closer inspection, it may be the Sundargarh from Odisha.

He went missing after taking a trip to MAngaluru with vegetable trader Bashir. It is suspected that he may have taken up employment at the accused  Tausif Hussain’s shop thereafter.