BENGALURU: A scuffle over a minor issue ended in the murder of a 45-year-old condiment store owner in north Bengaluru on Sunday morning.Manjunath N, owner of Sai Condiments at 17th Main in JC Nagar of Kurubarahalli, north Bengaluru, was stabbed to death allegedly by Akash, 24, an employee of an IT firm in Marathahalli.While cleaning the premises of his shop at 5.15am, Manjunath from Kurubarahalli poured water on the road which fell on Akash who was passing by. Akash, a resident of Rajajinagar, was riding back home from a friend’s house in Nagarbhavi. The two-wheeler skidded and Akash fell down. When an infuriated Akash questioned Manjunath, an altercation ensued between them. Soon, neighbours joined Manjunath to beat up the youth. Manjunath’s son Manoj M, a BBM student, also allegedly assaulted Akash.Akash managed to flee the spot but returned within 10 minutes to take his helmet that had fallen on the road. Thinking he has come back to assault them, Manjunath and his son allegedly came out from the shop with an iron rod and a knife to retaliate. A fight ensued and Akash was stabbed in his stomach. He also sustained severe injuries on his head and legs and is now undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. Manjunath, who was stabbed on his chest, died on the way to hospital. “Manoj alleged that Akash returned with a knife and stabbed his father which prompted others to attack him. But we suspect Akash might have snatched the knife from his attackers and stabbed Manjunath in the melee. We’re probing the matter,” Mahalakshmi Layout police said.Akash has been booked for murder based on a complaint from Manoj. A counter-case of attempt-to-murder has been registered against Manjunath and Manoj based on Akash’s complaint.“We’re not sure whom the knife belongs to as both the parties have denied ownership. Provocation over a petty issue led to this altercation,” Chethan Singh Rathor, deputy commissioner of police (north) said.

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