The Nelamangala Rural police have arrested a journalist and his relative for allegedly torturing and beating up a 45-year-old Dalit labourer to death in an inebriated state at their farmhouse in Hurulihalli village in the outskirts of the city on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Manjunath (34), owns the farmhouse and is the brother-in-law of Ravikumar (39), a reporter with a Kannada news channel.

Accused of theft

According to the police, the victim, Siddaraju, working as a labourer, was accused of theft by the duo, who assaulted him with sticks and kicked his private part, which eventually led to his death.

After Siddaraju fell unconscious, the accused called Siddaraju’s son, Chethan H.S., over the phone, informing him to come and take his father. When Chethan found Siddaraju battered and bruised, he rushed him to Nelamangala Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Chethan, in his complaint, alleged the duo had tortured him, accusing him of stealing coconuts from the farmhouse. Chethan alleged that his father was tortured for hours before being killed.

Investigations revealed that Siddaraju was working as a labourer in Manjunath’s farm for the last six months. However, he was never paid any wages, but only asked to collect the fallen tender coconuts and sell them to get money. They often accused him of plucking coconuts from trees as well and beat him up, the police said.

Tracked and arrested

The accused did not initially realise that Siddaraju was dead but fled the scene after hearing news of his death. However, based on the complaint, a team of police led by Narendra Babu M.R., Inspector, Nelamangala Rural station, tracked down the accused and arrested them on Wednesday.

The duo was charged under Section 103(1) (murder) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and also under various sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.