Just over a week since liquor shops across the city of Bengaluru has been open and already the city has seen a surge in a number of murders, attempted to murder and assault cases. All the cases have been linked to alcohol-related inebriation.
In the last week alone, seven people have been murdered in the city due to the violence because of alcohol consumption. In only one of the seven cases are police able to make arrests so far. On the 4th of May alone, there were 33 assault cases and 11 cases of attempt to murder due to liquor-induced violence. According to the data of the Bengaluru Police, there have been 69 cases of assault and attempt to murder in the last week in the city. In two isolated cases, two people have succumbed to alcohol. In one of the cases, the person died of consuming cheap liquor and in another case, a person died of alcohol overdose.
According to Shashikumar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Bengaluru North, there wasn’t a single case of murder reported in the city during the lockdown period when there was a ban on liquor.
A string of murders
On Monday, the north division police shot Prabhu Singh while trying to catch him in connection with his brother Karan’s murder. Prabhu and Karan were inebriated and fought over a video game ending with Prabhu stabbing Karan twice in his abdomen and chest.
On the same day, a 42-year-old man was murdered by his friend in Jeevan Bhima Nagar. After buying liquor and partying, the two reportedly fought as it later turned violent. The fight turned into a fistfight and ended up with a friend beating a man to death.
On Tuesday, two murders occurred in the areas Avalahalli and Kamakshipalya. 30-year-old Girish killed his friend Purshottam after getting drunk. Purshottam and his brother ended up at Girish’s apartment for a party. After the party, the three of them got into an argument and it ended with brothers beating Girish. However, once the situation was calmed down by the others in the room, Girish took a knife and chased Purshottam and allegedly stabbed him.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shashikumar later said,
“In many of the attempted murder and assault cases too, the accused were inebriated. However, a further probe will reveal whether there were any other motives.”
Source: The News Minute
