Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 1: A call centre employee, who advised some people against smoking, was murdered with a knife in the wee hours on Monday August 31. The police have arrested three youngsters relating to this murder.

Shashank (25) from Mangaluru, who was employed in a call centre at Whitefield in the city and stayed at Kasturi Nagar here, put paid by his life in exchange for his advice against smoking.

He was murdered near Chennasandra signal at Ramamurty Nagar here. The accused, Daniel (20), Ajay (19), and Vasudevan (19), all from Hoysala Nagar here, have been arrested relating to this incident, said deputy commissioner of police, Satish Kumar.

Shashank was visited by his friends from Kerala, Vishnu and Alex, on Sunday. All the three partied at a restaurant on that night, where they also consumed liquor. From the restaurant, the three went to a tea shop near Chennasandra signal and were having tea, besides smoking there.

Three youngsters, Daniel, Ajay and Vasudevan too were drinking tea and smoking cigarettes there. Shashank advised the trio against smoking at such a young age. Angered by the advice, Daniel started to spew cigarette smoke at Shashank's face. Angered by this act, Shashank hit Daniel. This gave rise to a fight between the two groups. After the fight worsened, Daniel drew out a knife and stabbed Shashank in the chest. Shashank's friends, who developed cold feet, took their friend, who had collapsed in a pool of blood, to hospital.

By then, Shashank had died. Hoysala staff, who were on patrol duty, rushed to the spot after hearing the commotion, and arrested the accused, policemen said. A case was registered in Ramamurty Nagar police station relating to the incident.