Malpe: A 55-year-old scrap collector was found murdered near the Babuthota jetty at Malpe fishing harbour in Udupi district on Tuesday, September 29. The deceased, identified as Parameshi alias Param Veli, was found lying in a pool of blood with a serious injury to his neck.
The incident came to light after a local resident noticed the body near an open space close to the harbour. Police suspect that unidentified assailants attacked the man during the night. A murder case has been registered at Malpe Police Station and an investigation is underway.
Deceased had been living near Malpe harbour
Param Veli was a native of Andhra Pradesh and had reportedly been living in the Malpe harbour area for around three years. He earned his livelihood by collecting scrap materials in and around the harbour.
According to reports, he regularly stayed in an open space near Babuthota jetty. The area was located between the premises of Malpe Marine Agencies and a fish-box storage godown. Fishermen reportedly used the open space to park their motorcycles, while some people also stayed there at night.
Param Veli reportedly used a sack as bedding and would sleep at the location, particularly during the afternoon and night. His regular presence at the spot was known to people in the area.
Body discovered on Tuesday morning
According to the complaint cited in reports, Rishabh, a 24-year-old resident of Kodavoor who runs Malpe Marine Agencies near the jetty, saw Param Veli sitting in the open space at around 7 pm on Monday.
Rishabh then closed his premises and left the location. When he returned at around 8.30 am on Tuesday, he reportedly found Param Veli lying on the sack.
He noticed blood near the man’s neck and on the ground. The discovery led to the incident being reported to the police.
The circumstances indicate that the attack may have taken place sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. However, the exact time of the assault will have to be established during the police investigation.
Police suspect a deliberate attack
Police suspect that the victim was attacked with a weapon and suffered a fatal injury to his neck. The Times of India reported that the suspected attack took place between 7 pm on Monday and 8.30 am on Tuesday, when the victim was found.
Another report stated that the injury appeared to have been caused by a sharp weapon. However, the exact weapon used and the circumstances leading to the attack are yet to be established.
Police have not publicly established a motive for the murder. Reports have mentioned the possibility of an earlier dispute or enmity, but this remains part of the investigation and has not been confirmed as the reason for the killing.
The identity of the person or persons responsible for the attack was not immediately known.
Malpe police begin investigation
Following the discovery of the body, Malpe Police registered a case under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the provision relating to murder, according to The Times of India.
Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the death and are expected to investigate the victim’s movements, people who may have interacted with him and the possibility of any dispute preceding the incident.
The location near the fishing harbour is also significant to the investigation because it was an open space used by fishermen and others. Establishing who was present in or around the area during the relevant period could help investigators reconstruct the sequence of events.
The body was found at a location where Param Veli was known to regularly sleep, making it important for investigators to establish whether the attack occurred at the same spot or whether the victim had been elsewhere before returning there.
Motive and accused yet to be established
At present, police have not identified an accused person in the reports available on the incident. The investigation is continuing to determine who attacked Param Veli and why.
The murder has also brought attention to the vulnerable circumstances in which some informal workers and migrant workers live around busy harbour areas. Param Veli had reportedly been earning his livelihood through scrap collection and had been staying in an open space rather than in formal accommodation.
However, there is no indication in the available reports that the killing was connected to his occupation. The motive remains to be established by investigators.
Investigation continues
The death of Param Veli was reported from the Babuthota area of Malpe on September 29. Police are investigating the circumstances of the attack and the events between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
As the investigation progresses, police may examine available evidence from the scene and gather information from people familiar with the victim and the harbour area. Any identification or arrest of suspects will depend on evidence gathered during the investigation.
For now, the case remains an investigation into the murder of a 55-year-old scrap collector who had been living and working around Malpe harbour for several years.