A 39-year-old labourer was allegedly beaten to death by his acquaintance following an argument over speaking loudly on a video call in the Masjid Bunder area of South Mumbai. The accused, who had fled after the incident, was later arrested by the Paydhonie Police Station.
The deceased has been identified as Vipul Kamroti Karmakar (39), while the accused is Ibrahim Kalu Shaikh (19).
The incident took place on Monday between 1 pm and 1:30 pm near Dana Bunder, Clive Road, outside a government-authorised country liquor shop in the Masjid Bunder locality.
According to police sources, Biswajit Vikas Saha, a resident of Thane Street in Dongri who runs a sound system business, knew both Vipul and Ibrahim. Vipul worked as a daily wage labourer, while Ibrahim was unemployed. Both were staying in a hutment near Sai Baba Temple on Clive Road, Masjid Bunder, and were known to each other as they lived in the same area.
On Monday afternoon, Vipul was speaking to a girl on a video call on his mobile phone. As he was talking loudly, Ibrahim allegedly asked him to lower his voice. This led to a heated argument between the two.
During the altercation, Ibrahim allegedly abused Vipul and brutally assaulted him. Police said the accused repeatedly beat Vipul and banged him against the cemented road, leaving him critically injured and bleeding profusely. Ibrahim then fled the spot.
Local residents rushed the injured Vipul to Sir JJ Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Upon receiving information, officials from Paydhonie Police reached the scene and began an investigation. The sequence of events came to light based on the statement of Biswajit Saha. Acting on his complaint, police registered a case of murder against Ibrahim and launched a manhunt.
The absconding accused was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday. Further investigation into the case is underway.