Bengaluru man stabs friend to death over phone prank, arrested

BENGALURU: City police have arrested a hospital housekeeping staffer on charges of stabbing his friend and colleague to death after the victim abused him for hiding his mobile phone.

The accused is Ramu, in his late 20s, and the incident took place on May 10 when the victim, Parashuram Ellappa Mangalagatti, returned from duty. “Parashuram went for a bath and Ramu hid the phone. Knowing it was Ramu who hid it, Parashuram pleaded with him to return it. When Ramu continued to plead his innocence, Parashuram lost his cool and abused him. Ramu, who was under the influence of alcohol, stabbed Parashuram with a kitchen knife and fled,” a police officer said.

With the help of his neighbours and friends, Parashuram received treatment at a nearby hospital before travelling to Hubballi, his hometown. However, he died earlier this week, and his elder brother filed a complaint against Ramu the following day. “I did it as a joke and never realised the stab wound would prove fatal,” Ramu told police.