Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (EP)

Mangalore, Sep 24: A resident of Daregudde Vittalagudde in Moodbidri here was found to have died under mysterious circumstances near his house on September 12. It is now learnt that a couple near his house allegedly killed him by hitting him with a wooden staff.

The deceased has been identified as Raghu Bhandary (63). His neighbors Maurice D’ Costa (58) and his wife Carmine D’Costa (50) have been arrested in this regard.

It is said that wild animals used to enter the couple's fields and destroy the crops. The couple used to make noise by beating on a tin box to drive away the animals. It is said that Raghu Bhandary objected to it, saying that it disturbed his sleep. When Maurice banged on the tin again on September 12, it led to an argument between Raghu and the couple.

It is said that during the quarrel, Maurice, in a fit of anger, snatched a wooden staff from the hands of Raghu Bhandary and allegedly hit his head with much force. Raghu staggered towards the fields near his house, collapsed and died there. The couple who saw Raghu fall dead, grew frightened and reportedly threw the body in a canal near his house, it is learnt.

The body was found by the victim's family the next morning. As there were marks of injury on the head and the body, they suspected foul play.

The police who registered a complaint, after questioning some people, came to know that Maurice and his wife had a hand in the killing.

As the couple admitted their guilt, they were arrested on Monday September 22 and produced in the local court which sent them to judicial custody for 15 days.