Friends kill auto driver

A 22-year-old autorickshaw driver, who was reported missing from Saturday, was found murdered in a gutter in Bagalgunte in Peenya police limits on Thursday.

According to the police, the victim has been identified as Maruthi, a native of Pavagad in Tumakuru district. He was residing in Mallasandra along with his friends.

On Saturday, he went along with his friends, but did not return home.
On Sunday evening, his parents approached the police and lodged a missing complaint. The police went to the victim’s house and questioned Ashok, one of his friends. He tried to dodge the police initially but confessed to the crime.

He told the police that he, along with other friends, took Maruthi for a drink. While they were drinking liquor, they indulged in a heated argument over some financial matter and killed Maruthi. They dumped his body in a gutter in Bagalgunte and fled, the police said. Ashok has been arrested.