Kolkata, 6 July (H.S.): A heated argument over who would pay for alcohol turned fatal when a 24-year-old youth was allegedly beaten to death by a friend and his father in Kolkata’s Thakurpukur area on Sunday morning.

The police have arrested the accused father and son. The deceased has been identified as Bapi Adhikari, a resident of Dattarmath in the Thakurpukur police station area.

According to police sources, Bapi Adhikari, Krishna Jana, and two other friends were drinking overnight on the verandah of Sakhirbazar Super Market. On Sunday morning, an argument broke out between Bapi and Krishna over who would pay for the alcohol. The quarrel soon turned into a physical fight between the two.

Allegedly, Krishna then called his father, Dipu Jana, to the scene. After that Dipu and Krishna reportedly began assaulting Bapi and the other two youths. While the other two managed to escape, Bapi could not. Krishna and Dipu caught him and began beating him mercilessly. According to eyewitnesses, Dipu removed his slipper and started hitting Bapi, striking him multiple times on the head. As a result, Bapi collapsed unconscious on the spot.

Following this, both Krishna and Dipu fled the scene. Local residents informed Thakurpukur police, who soon arrived and rushed Bapi to Vidyasagar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Based on a written complaint filed by the victim’s family, Thakurpukur police lodged an FIR and arrested both Krishna Jana and his father Dipu Jana. The accused are residents of Janakalyan in Behala Sakhirbazar.

The police have sealed off the crime scene and are reviewing CCTV footage from the market area. Investigators are also trying to identify and locate the two other youths who were present during the incident but fled before the arrival of the police.

Commenting on the incident, Deputy Commissioner (South-West Division) of Kolkata Police, Rahul De, said, “There was a dispute among friends over sharing the cost of alcohol. One of them allegedly called his father, and together they attacked the others. Two managed to flee, but Bapi Adhikari was assaulted and later died. Both Krishna Jana and his father Dipu Jana have been arrested. The body has been sent for post-mortem, and the exact cause of death will be confirmed once the report is received.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey