A 55-year-old man was allegedly killed by a gang of three unidentified persons while he tried to thwart a burglary attempt at Neermanvi tanda of Manvi taluk of the district early on Thursday. The gang managed to escape with valuables and cash, police said.
The victim was identified as Dhakappa, a Tanda resident.
S.B. Patil, Additional Superintendent of Police, who visited the spot, told The Hindu that the gang attacked Dhakappa when he tried to stop them from escaping with an iron trunk containing golden ornaments worth around ₹50,000. They attacked him with an iron rod and stabbed him with a knife before escaping. Dhakappa reportedly was killed on the spot.
“It was a brutal attack by the miscreants, who we suspected to be habitual burglars,” he said.
A team of sniffer dogs and fingerprint experts were rushed the spot. Mr. Patil said that a special team headed by the Circle Police Inspector of Manvi town had been formed to trace the accused.
A case has been registered by the Manvi town police station.