Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)
Kasargod, Mar 17: The owner of a shop dealing with sale and service of watches and clocks at Hosangady near Manjeshwar in the district was stabbed to death in broad daylight for flimsy reason on Monday March 16 afternoon. The deceased is Suresh (55), who operated a Timex watch shop at Hosangady, and son of the late Narayan from Udyavara Thota nearby.
The person who committed this murder was Abbapitta alias Khaleel (38), a resident of Badaje near Manjeshwar. The locals immediately caught hold of the murderer and handed him over to Manjeshwar police.
It is said that Suresh was sitting inside his shop when the accused, who suddenly approached him from the rear at around 3.30 pm, suddenly stabbed the former with a sharp knife in the chest region. Several people, who witnessed this gory murder, immediately surrounded the murderer and snatched away the knife used for the murder. Suresh, who had collapsed and writhing with pain in a pool of blood, was taken to a hospital at Mangaluru. But he could not be saved.
It is gathered that Khaleel, a timber merchant by profession, is a liquor addict who got drunk and created a scene often. On Saturday, he had raised a din in front of Suresh's shop in a state of intoxication, after which Suresh, in a fit of anger, had hit Khaleel with a stick. It is believed that because of this enmity, Khaleel murdered Suresh, as evidenced by the fact that after the killing, he announced aloud that he had settled scores.
Condemning this murder, merchants of Hosangady went on a flash strike and downed their shutters. It is gathered that they will continue their agitation on Tuesday too. Buses moving on Hosangady-Anekal, Meeyapadavu route suspended their trips after the murder.
Suresh, who was running the shop at Hosangady since the last three decades, was soft-spoken gentleman. He is survived by wife and three daughters. He was also the member of merchants association from Manjeshwar.
Kasargod deputy superintendent of police, T P Ranjith, Kumble police circle inspector, Sureshbabu, and Manjeshwar police sub-inspector, Pramod, rushed to the spot. Elaborate security has been arranged by the police in the area.