Youth stabbed to death on Diwali near Bengaluru over digital transfer of photos

The group kept insisting they transfer the pictures immediately, leading to an altercation between the two groups and one of the accused, who has been identified as Dileep, took out a sharp-edged weapon and stabbed Surya the youth.

Bengaluru: A 19-year-old student died after being stabbed in the chest by a fellow diner during an argument over transfer of pictures at a dhaba near Bengaluru, police said. 

Doddaballapur resident Surya and his three friends had gone to the dhaba near Doddabelavangala on Bengaluru's northern outskirts around 5 pm on Sunday. Surya carried a DSLR camera and started taking pictures of his friends.

Meanwhile, members of a five-member group dining at the eatery requested Surya to click their pictures too. He agreed. 

At the end of the shoot, the group asked Surya to send their pictures on WhatsApp. Surya said, he needed time to send the pictures because they had to be transferred to his laptop first. 

A member of that group, identified as Dilip Gowda, didn't like Surya's response and tried to snatch his camera. Surya retaliated and grabbed his collar. 

Things took a dramatic turn when Gowda pulled a knife keychain from his pocket and pierced it into Surya's chest. As the teenager collapsed, Gowda and his friends fled from the spot on their motorcycles. 

Surya's friends took him to a hospital where he succumbed afterwards. 

Police have launched a manhunt for Gowda and his friends, who remain unidentified. A senior officer from the Doddaballapur subdivision informed that Gowda's phone is switched off. 

According to the officer, the sharp object was inserted right into the middle of the chest, causing the death. 

Police suspect that Gowda and his friends were under the influence of alcohol, possibly contributing to violence. 

For now, the police have booked all of them for murder. 

Scenic dhaba

With its scenic lawn and wall paintings, the dhaba is popular with picnic lovers and photo aficionados. Many people visit it for photoshoots. 

Surya and his friends were attracted by one of its wall paintings and decided to go there for a Deepavali photo shoot, according to police.