Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Nov 12: The Moodbidri police have secured a conviction in the 2020 murder case of Chetan, a canteen worker in a private college here, with the accused, Chidananda Parashu Nayak, sentenced to life imprisonment by the II Additional District and Sessions Court, Mangaluru.

According to the police, the incident occurred on October 30, 2020, when a dispute between two canteen workers, Chetan (22) and Chidananda, over work-related and personal issues escalated into violence. Around 12.45 am, Chidananda allegedly broke into the staff rest room at Vidyagiri, where Chetan was sleeping, and attacked him on the head and face with an iron rod, despite attempts by co-workers Rajesh and Shankar to intervene.

Chetan sustained grievous head injuries and was rushed to Alva’s Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries despite treatment. The accused also took Chetan’s mobile phone before fleeing the scene.

Based on a complaint filed by Rajesh Poojary (42) of Doddaje Mane, Beladi Post, Karkala taluk, a case was registered at Moodbidri police station under Sections 302, 307, 448, 504, 506, and 201 of the IPC.

Under the supervision of inspector B S Dinesh Kumar and investigation assistant Kanthappa, the police interrogated around 40 witnesses and collected crucial evidence before submitting the final report to the court.

After examining the evidence and hearing arguments from government prosecutor Jyothi Nayak, the court found the accused guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Police constable Ashok from Moodbidri station assisted in ensuring the timely presence of witnesses during the trial.