BENGALURU: A 68-year-old man was beaten to death for objecting to a couple and a dog trainer letting their pet dogs poop in front of his residence at Soladevanahalli in Bengaluru.
Muniraju, a private company employee, was attacked by pet parents M Ravi Kumar (38) and Pallavi (28), their friend and dog trainer Pramod N (27) with a cricket bat on Saturday. The three also attacked Muniraju's son Murali, a cabbie, when the latter tried to save his father.
Muniraju and Murali were shifted to a nearby private hospital where the elderly man succumbed to his head injuries the same night. Murali is undergoing treatment.
Accused Ravi Kumar is self-employed, while Pallavi is a homemaker. Pramod lived two houses away from Muniraju's. Ravi Kumar is Pramod's next-door neighbour. The three accused were arrested and sent to judicial custody, Soladevanahalli police said.
The two parties have had arguments over the same issue on earlier occasions too, police said, adding that Muniraju had last month complained to them over Ravi Kumar and Pramod's pets pooping in front of his house. The accused, who had been asked to give an undertaking to not repeat the offence, returned on Saturday to settle scores with Muniraju, leading to the clash, police said.
Muniraju and his three alleged killers shared an acrimonious relationship for more than a year now, police further said.
"Ravi Kumar and Murali had fought after a car sold by the latter to the former's friend last year was seized by a bank over non-payment of loan. Since then, there was enmity between the two men. Muniraju would often criticise Ravi Kumar for letting his pet poop near his house. The argument reached a new height on Saturday, , leading to Muniraju's death," an officer investigating the case said.
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