Image showing cigarettes.
Credit: Reuters File Photo
Kalaburagi: A dalit youth working at a private blood bank in the city was allegedly tortured and killed by the owner on the charge that he had stolen cigarette packets.
Shashikant Mallikarjun Natikar (25) was a resident of Pragati Colony in Kalaburagi. The police have filed an FIR against blood bank owner Chandrashekhar Mallinath Patil and four others. The main accused is absconding.
Shashikant was employed at the blood bank near Basaveshwara Hospital. Chandrashekhar Patil, owner of the blood bank, accused Shashikant of stealing cigarette packets worth Rs 1.40 lakh and demanded him to pay amount. He allegedly called his associates and assaulted him, as alleged by Mallikarjun, the father of the deceased, in the complaint.