Goons beat Muslim to death over refusing to pay ‘protection money’

Bengaluru: A 45-year-old mechanic was allegedly beaten to death by a group of men after he refused to pay “protection money” (mamool) in Bengaluru’s Wilson Garden area on Sunday night, The Free Press Journal reported, citing police information.

The victim, Rasheed Pasha, was attacked near Bada Makan Road around 9 pm by three accused who reportedly demanded ₹50,000 after noticing that he had begun construction of a new garage in the locality. According to police, Pasha had refused to pay the amount, leading to a heated argument earlier in the day.

Investigators said the dispute initially broke out in the morning and escalated later in the evening. The suspects allegedly returned to the spot around 8:30 pm and again demanded the money. When Pasha declined, they allegedly assaulted him with a cricket bat and bamboo sticks.

The attack reportedly took place in front of Pasha’s two children. Shocking visuals from the scene have surfaced on social media, showing one of the accused striking the victim with a cricket bat.

Local residents rushed the severely injured mechanic to a nearby hospital, but he later succumbed to his injuries. His body was subsequently shifted to Victoria Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Police from the Wilson Garden Police Station have registered a case of murder and launched a manhunt to trace the accused.

Central Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Akshay Machindra visited the crime scene and confirmed that a medico-legal report had been received. He said the exact motive behind the killing was still under investigation.

Following the incident, tension prevailed in the locality as residents gathered at the spot. Authorities deployed a unit of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) in the area as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.