In a shocking incident in Bengaluru’s Varthur area, a 35-year-old construction worker named Bablu was killed by a colleague after a heated argument over a Rs 20 gutkha request turned deadly. Both the victim and the accused, 40-year-old Seetharam, were tile workers from Begusarai, Bihar, employed at a private school construction site in Ramagondanahalli.
The altercation occurred on the night of July 28, after the two consumed alcohol. Bablu reportedly gave Seetharam Rs 20 and asked him to purchase Vimal gutkha. This seemingly simple request allegedly offended Seetharam, who was upset about being told what to do by someone younger.
Later that night, while Bablu was asleep at the site, Seetharam allegedly struck him with a hammer, killing him. Other workers discovered the murder on July 29 when they arrived for work. Police confirmed that the crime was driven by a bruised ego under the influence of alcohol. Seetharam has since been arrested.
In a similar violent act in May, a 29-year-old software engineer, Sanjay, died in a hit-and-run after allegedly refusing to share a cigarette. The enraged suspect followed and rammed into his bike, causing fatal injuries.
These two unrelated cases reflect how minor disputes escalated into deadly acts, raising concerns over unchecked aggression and substance abuse.