Bhubaneswar: A 33-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his friend on suspicion of stealing money in Ganjam district of Odisha yesterday.
The deceased has been identified as Bijay Panigarhi of Gandala village under Hinjilicut police limits in Ganjam.
Accused Ramkrushna Sahu has been arrested and produced in a local court, said Hinjilicut police IIC Srinivas Sethi.
Someone had reportedly stolen Rs 6,000 from Sahu’s house a few days ago. Sahu, however, suspected that Panigrahi, who used to visit the former’s house regularly, had stolen the money, police said.
Sahu yesterday invited Panigrahi to his house and asked him to return the stolen amount. The duo got engaged in a heated exchange after Panigrahi claimed his innocence in connection with the theft, they added.
In a fit of rage, Sahu smashed Panigrahi’s head with the haft of a garden shovel. Panigrahi died on the spot, police said.
Basing upon an FIR lodged by the victim’s father, Hinjilicut police registered a case and sent the body for postmortem.
