Pic: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 21: The body of Venkatesh (32), a resident of Valencia in the city, who eked out a living by working as line salesman for various items of daily use like scented sticks, brushes etc, by visiting shops and stalls in the area, was found murdered on the night of Saturday  March 19. His body was found lying at the junction of Acharibail Road and Arabi Road in Moodushedde in the city.

It is suspected, that Venkatesh was killed between 4 pm and 9.30 pm on that day. It is gathered a number of passers-by had seen him there since evening on Saturday, but did not give importance to the incident, as it is common for some people to lie down by the roadside after getting heavily drunk. They however, got curious as the man continued to lie there without moving, and after close scrutiny at around 9.30 pm, found that he was dead, and a knife that was stuck into his body was protruding from his back. They then passed on information to the policemen. Personnel from Kavoor police station swung into action immediately thereafter.

The policemen established the identity of the man by calling a phone number found written on a chit found in the shirt pocket of the deceased. The number happened to be that of a friend of Venkatesh. Venkatesh was married, and his wife works in a hospital here. He also has left behind three brothers.

The people said that in the past, Venkatesh used to sell things by moving around in a two-wheeler. But of late, he had started selling goods by going around on foot and in buses, holding two heavy bags in his hands, and that his earning was meagre, they said.

A case of murder has been registered in Kavoor police station. Investigation is on.