Mangaluru: Surathkal Police have arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly murdering his younger brother with an axe following a dispute over the latter speaking to a girl on his mobile phone at Chokkabettu on the outskirts of Mangaluru.
The deceased has been identified as Mallikarjun, while the accused is his elder brother Somanath (21).
Argument escalated into fatal attack
According to Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH, the brothers, along with their mother Shivaleela, had been living in a rented house on Krishnapura Mutt Road in Chokkabettu for the past five years. The family, originally from Kushtagi taluk in Koppal district, earned a livelihood through daily wage labour.
Police said that at around 11 pm on July 19, Somanath objected to Mallikarjun talking to a girl on his mobile phone. A heated argument broke out between the brothers, during which Mallikarjun allegedly abused his elder brother.
Enraged by the altercation, Somanath allegedly waited until Mallikarjun had fallen asleep before attacking him with an axe kept inside the house. The victim sustained severe head and facial injuries and died on the spot. The accused then fled the scene.
Accused traced and arrested
Based on a complaint, Surathkal Police registered a case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation.
During the probe, police traced Somanath while he was hiding in bushes near Krishnapura Mutt Road. He was taken into custody, and during interrogation, allegedly confessed to the crime.
Police said the accused will be produced before the jurisdictional court for further legal proceedings, while the investigation into the case is continuing.