Mangaluru: The fourth additional district and sessions court awarded three years rigorous imprisonment to a migrant labourer in a murder case that took place at Beluvai near Moodbidri three years ago.Giving out details of the case, public prosecutor Harischandra Udyavar told reporters on Friday that though it was registered as a murder case initially, the judge, after examining 23 witnesses, considered it as a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.The victim Shivappa Chalavadi, 30, and the accused Rangappa Naikar alias Umesh and Kumara, all originally hailing from Bagalkot, were working at a stone quarry near Beluvai. They, including a few others employed at the quarry, were staying at a shed nearby.For a couple of weeks before his murder, Shivappa skipped work on numerous occasions and had been seeking money for his personal expenses from his friends. He used to pick up fights with those who refused to heed his demand.In a similar incident on February 14, 2016, Shivappa demanded money from one of the shed inmates, Mangalappa. As the latter refused to lend money, Shivappa assaulted him. Miffed over this, Mangalappa brought the incident to the notice of other shed inmates.Around 10 pm, Rangappa, Kumara and a minor boy attacked Shivappa with wooden logs. He later succumbed to his injuries. Three accused, including the minor, were arrested the next day, following which Moodbidri police inspector Ananthapadmanabha filed the chargesheet.The key accused Rangappa has been absconding after he managed to secure bail. A separate investigation is under way regarding the role of the minor boy.

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