Mobile phone prank turns fatal: housekeeping staff stabbed to death by friend

What began as a prank over a hidden mobile phone ended in tragedy after a housekeeping worker allegedly stabbed his friend to death during a quarrel in Marathahalli. Police have arrested the accused, identified as Ramu Basappa Pattad, 35, a resident of Siddarood Nagar in Kuruvinakoppa village of Kalaghatagi taluk in Dharwad district.

According to the complaint filed by the victim’s brother Gangappa Mangalagatti, the deceased, Parashuram Mangalagatti, was staying in a rented house near the BESCOM office on Chowdeshwari Road in Marathahalli along with friends Hanumanth Doddamani and the accused. All of them worked as housekeeping staff at KIMS Hospital in Mahadevapura.

Police said that on the morning of May 9 at around 8.30 am, Ramu Basappa Pattad allegedly hid Parashuram’s mobile phone as a prank and refused to return it despite repeated requests. The playful argument soon escalated into a serious fight. During the altercation, the accused allegedly went into the kitchen, picked up a knife and stabbed Parashuram Mangalagatti in the abdomen before fleeing from the house.

The injured man was being treated at a private hospital, but he succumbed to injuries at around 12.30 pm on May 11 due to severe internal injuries and blood loss, doctors said.

Investigators said the accused initially believed that he had caused only a minor injury and allegedly told police during interrogation that he did not realise the victim had died. He reportedly returned to the rented room two days later expecting his friend to come back looking for the phone, only to find the house locked.

Marathahalli Police Station police traced and arrested the accused on May 14. Further investigation is underway.