A 45-year-old jeep mechanic was brutally murdered after allegedly refusing to pay an extortion demand in Wilson Garden, a locality in Bengaluru, police said on Monday.
The victim, identified as Rasheed Pasha (45), ran a small shop on Bada Makan Road where he worked as a jeep mechanic. According to preliminary information, the incident took place around 9 pm on Sunday night, triggering panic in the neighbourhood.
Dispute Began in the Morning
Police said the trouble began earlier in the day when Rasheed had installed a mould in front of his shop. Some local troublemakers reportedly objected to it and demanded ₹50,000 as “mamool” (extortion money).
Rasheed allegedly refused to pay the money, which led to a heated argument between him and the group. Though the dispute cooled down temporarily, tensions continued to simmer throughout the day.
Attack at Night
Around 8:30 pm, three accused returned to Rasheed’s shop and again demanded the money. When Rasheed refused to pay, the argument escalated into a violent assault.
The attackers allegedly hit him repeatedly with a bat and blunt objects, leaving him critically injured. Witnesses said the gang assaulted him mercilessly before fleeing the scene.
Died on the Spot
Due to the severity of the attack, Rasheed Pasha reportedly died on the spot. Local residents rushed to help and shifted him to a hospital, but doctors declared him dead.
His body was later sent to Victoria Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Police Investigation
Officers from the Wilson Garden Police Station visited the crime scene and conducted an inspection. A murder case has been registered, and police teams have launched a search operation to track down the three accused who are currently absconding.
Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby shops and questioning local residents to gather more evidence.
The shocking killing has once again raised concerns over extortion and rowdy activities targeting small business owners in parts of Bengaluru.
