Incident overview

A Sunday get-together among workers in Karnataka's Belagavi district turned fatal after an argument over chicken pieces. The police reported that a man stabbed his friend to death at Hunashyal PG village in Mudalagi taluk on August 23. The victim has been identified as Sathiram Chandradev, a native of Kabirganj village in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh. The accused, Arunkumar Balishtar Chavan, is from the same village. Both were working at a steel factory in Hunashyal PG.

According to the police, four to five workers were having chicken and liquor in the shed where they lived when the argument broke out. Belagavi Superintendent of Police K Ramarajan said Arunkumar accused Sathiram of taking an extra portion of chicken and stabbed him in the chest with a knife that was lying nearby. The victim suffered severe bleeding and died on the spot.

Attempt to conceal the death

After the incident, Arunkumar allegedly took Sathiram’s body to the government hospital in Gokak, where he told doctors the man had fallen while welding, apparently to cover up the stabbing. However, medical staff noticed a deep wound on the chest and alerted the police. A detailed inspection of the spot and an investigation established that Sathiraman had not died from a fall, according to authorities.

Ramarajan said the incident was initially concealed, but after a thorough investigation, police found it to be a case of murder. The Ghataprabha police arrested Arunkumar and seized the knife reportedly used in the crime. The police are continuing their investigation.

The case has drawn attention to the violent outcome of a seemingly minor dispute among colleagues sharing a meal.