Bar brawl turns fatal: Restaurant cook beaten to death in Vizhinjam

T'puram: A 38-year-old restaurant cook was beaten to death outside a bar near Vizhinjam late on Wednesday night, following a minor altercation that escalated into a brutal assault.

The deceased, Suman, a resident of Palappoor in Vandithadam, Thiruvallam, worked as a cook at a restaurant in Kovalam. He is survived by his wife Ramya, a therapist, and five-year-old daughter, Anarkali.

Police have arrested brothers Achu S Babu (24) and Ananthu S S (19), natives of RC Street, Balaramapuram, who are staying on rent at Payattuvila. Achu is a painter and Ananthu a tipper truck driver.

According to police, the incident began around 10.30pm when Achu got into an argument with another person inside the bar. As the man attempted to apologise, allegedly by holding Achu's leg, Suman intervened in an attempt to defuse the situation. During the scuffle, Achu was hit in the face, following which Suman was assaulted and forced to flee the bar premises.

Police said Achu later called up his brother and the duo chased Suman onto the road, where they pushed him down and repeatedly kicked and punched him on the head and chest. The assault was filmed by bystanders, with visuals showing the accused choking Suman, stamping on his face and continuing the attack even as he lay motionless.

Witnesses who attempted to intervene were threatened and allegedly pepper-sprayed by the accused, forcing them to back off. The attackers fled the scene soon after the incident.

A passerby from Chovvara alerted the police, who rushed Suman to the Vizhinjam Community Health Centre. He was declared dead and the body was later shifted to the medical college mortuary.

Two others detained in connection with the case were later released, as they were not directly involved in the assault, police said.

By noon, police formally recorded the arrests of Achu and Ananthu, who were later produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

The body was handed over to relatives after postmortem, police said.

Police officials said the postmortem revealed multiple internal fractures leading to internal bleeding.

They said vital organs, including the lungs, and spine were injured in the attack, resulting in his death.

There were also external injuries on his face and head, police added.