Argument over payment of Rs 40 turns tragic as shopkeeper dies after being pushed by customer in Odisha
Bhadrak: A heated argument over payment of Rs 40 turned tragic as a shopkeeper died allegedly after being pushed by a customer in Odisha’s Bhadrak Town today.
One Rakesh Parida of Charampa area had reportedly gone to a grocery shop situated at Patharadi Chhak under the Bhadrak Town Police station limits to purchase some things.
After buying some goods worth Rs 180 from the shop, Rakesh reportedly paid only Rs 140 to the shop owner, Bijay Panda of Bania village.
As Bijay asked Rakesh for the balance Rs 40, a heated argument broke out between them. Irate over the exchange of words, Rakesh allegedly pushed Bijay, following which the latter fell to the ground and became senseless.
Some neighbouring shopkeepers and locals soon rushed Bijay to the Bhadrak District Headquarter Hospital (DHH) for treatment. But sadly, the doctor who attended Bijay declared him brought dead.
While speaking to the media persons about the incident, Bijay’s nephew Nalinikant Panda said, “My uncle was completely fit and fine and had gone to the shop. I got a call from another uncle asking me to go to the hospital immediately. I rushed to the hospital without delaying as I was not told the reason. When we reached the hospital, the doctors told us that my uncle was no more.”
“From the neighbouring shopkeepers we go to know that the man abused my uncle with slangs and attacked him causing his death on the spot when he asked to pay the money for the things he had purchased. We have filed a case now and hope the police conduct a proper investigation and give us justice,” he added.
Based on the complaint of the family members, police is said to have initiated an investigation into the matter, said sources.
Ms Kalinga