Kundapur: Court sentences man to life for killing sleeping worker with stone

Mangalore Today News Network

Kundapur, July 30, 2026: A local court in Kundapur has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering a fellow worker by crushing his head with a stone while he was asleep in Harkur village under the Gangolli Police Station limits three years ago.

The convict has been identified as Raju.

According to the prosecution, on May 14, 2023, Nagaraj Achari of Harkur village had engaged mason Sangodappa alias Sangamesh for construction work, who in turn had brought Raju to the site as a labourer. At around 9.15 pm, Raju and Sangodappa got into an argument over wages, which escalated into a physical altercation.

Police said that Raju picked up a large red stone lying nearby and struck Sangodappa on the head, killing him on the spot.

A case was registered at the Gangolli Police Station, and the investigation was conducted by then Byndoor Circle Inspector Santosh Kaikini, who later filed the charge sheet before the court. The prosecution was represented by Government Pleader Indira Nayak, who examined the witnesses and argued the case.

After completing the trial, Additional District and Sessions Judge-I Abdul Rahim Husain Sheikh found the accused guilty and sentenced him to:

* Life imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000 under Section 302 of the IPC (murder).
* One year of imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000 under Section 504 of the IPC (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).
* One year of imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000 under Section 506 of the IPC (criminal intimidation).
* One year of imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000 under Section 324 of the IPC (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means).