Row over phone leads to murder

Hyderabad: An excise department constable, Rupesh, and his relatives allegedly killed a 21-year-old person early on Monday following a tiff over borrowing a mobile phone, the Meerpet police said. The victim was identified Chakali Bhargav, salesman for a medical agency. Rupesh works with the Medchal district’s excise unit.

Meerpet inspector Narsing Yadaiah said a murder case has been registered and a hunt is on to nab the accused.

Bhargav, along with his friends Manikanta and Sharath went to Srisailam on Sunday. Upon their return, Upon their return, Sharath went to drop Manikanta at his home in Jillelaguda, while Bhargav stayed back at his home in Saidabad.

Manikanta found the house locked. Their phones having drained out of power, they went to a nearby house to ask for a phone to make a call to his family. Rupesh and his cousins, who were already heavily drunk, grew angry as Manikanta had asked them to call a woman, and picked up an argument.

This led to a quarrel and in the physical assaults, many were injured. While others managed to escape, Praveen rushed the seriously injured Bhargav to hospital, where he was declared dead.

Manikanta then went to Saidabad and came back with Bhargav, Praveen and Naveen. They picked up another quarrel with Rupesh and his family during which some persons were injured. Bhargav received severe injuries and collapsed while escaping. Praveen rushed him to hospital, where he was declared dead.