Trying to save son in row over game,man beaten to death

Police officials identified the victim as Mohammad Kasim.

According to the police,Kasim’s son Faisal was playing gilli-danda with a friend outside their home when the two entered into a clash. Kasim was home when his son ran in and told him that their neighbour’s son was hitting him the wooden danda,an officer said.

When Kasim tried to intervene,the friend’s father,Allaudin,got into an argument with him — this soon led to a fist fight,the officer said.

“Kasim’s family members have told the police that Allaudin hit him with a rod,and beat him repeatedly,” a senior police officer said. “They claim he was beaten to death in front of their eyes. According to them,Allaudin’s family members threatened them when they tried to save Kasim.”

A bystander called the Police Control Room and the police took him to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. Kasim was declared dead on arrival at the hospital,the officer said.

The police suspect Kasim died due to a cardiac arrest but are waiting for the autopsy report — he reportedly had a history of chest pain.

The police have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and have detained Allaudin for questioning. They are waiting for the postmortem report to ascertain the cause of death. Kasim used to work as a book binder,police officials said.