A 19-year-old delivery worker from Devanahalli, Bengaluru, was tragically kidnapped and slain by five individuals following tensions over a broken romantic relationship, police confirmed on Sunday.
The victim, Preetham R, who worked for an online grocery service and lived in Prashanth Nagar, had been in a relationship with a 21-year-old Ayurveda student. When the relationship deteriorated, the woman distanced herself. Preetham allegedly continued to pursue her, actions that she considered intrusive and alarming. She confided in her relatives, prompting her cousin Srikanth and his friends—Shiva Kumar, Charan, Sanjay, and Kaushik (aged 22–25)—to intervene.
Despite previous confrontations, Preetham reportedly ignored repeated warnings. On May 2 around 10:30 pm, the group forcibly seized him near his workplace and shoved him into a moving car. During a grim two-hour journey, the young man was viciously beaten—punched and kicked repeatedly. They eventually halted near a deserted area where the assault intensified, primarily targeting his face. Once unconscious, Preetham was abandoned near a government school in Neeragantipalya.
His father, Ramachandra H, grew anxious when his son failed to return home by 6 am. Upon hearing of the abduction, he began searching. By 7:15 am, he was alerted to a body discovered nearby—badly battered and barely recognizable. Ramachandra later confirmed it was his son.
Police apprehended the five suspects—daily wage earners—on Sunday. Authorities are interrogating them, and the probe remains active.
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