Belagavi, 4 Feb

A heated dispute allegedly sparked by alcohol consumption ended in tragedy on Tuesday night when a shop owner in the district was fatally assaulted, police said on Wednesday.

The victim, 48-year-old Yallappa Durgappa Naik, ran a local provision store. According to police, four youths from Kadoli village—identified as Prajjwal Patil, Nikhil Chougale, Vivek Chougale and Shridhar Patil—had attended a fair earlier in the evening and were returning home in an inebriated state. They stopped at Naik’s shop to buy a cigarette.

An argument reportedly erupted when Naik insisted that they pay for the purchase. The youths allegedly assaulted him, inflicting severe injuries. Despite efforts to rush him to the hospital, Naik succumbed to his injuries on the way.

Acting swiftly, Kakati police apprehended all four accused within half an hour of the incident. A case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the assault.

Police have appealed to the public to provide any additional information that may assist in the inquiry. The district remains in shock over the untimely death of the shop owner following what began as a minor dispute.