On May 15, a tragic event occurred on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where an 18-year-old boy allegedly killed his 13-year-old brother following disputes over mobile phone video games.
The victim, identified as Pranesh, and the accused, Shivakumar, lived with their parents in a farmhouse near Neriga village. The family originates from Adoni in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. According to the police, Shivakumar had dropped out of school, while Pranesh had just completed Class 7.
A police officer reported that on Wednesday afternoon, Pranesh was playing games on Shivakumar’s mobile phone. When Shivakumar asked for his phone back, Pranesh refused, leading to an argument. The officer explained that Shivakumar then attempted to intimidate his brother with a hammer. In a fit of rage, Shivakumar struck Pranesh on the head with the hammer. As Pranesh fell to the ground, Shivakumar allegedly continued to hit him seven or eight more times.
The incident remained undiscovered until 6:30 pm. Upon their return from work, the parents were informed by Shivakumar that he had found Pranesh’s body. The Sarjapura police were then notified about the death. While Shivakumar initially feigned innocence, it was discovered that he was the last person to see Pranesh and the first to find the body. During questioning, Shivakumar confessed to the murder, as stated by a police officer.
Shivakumar was arrested by the police and brought before a court, where he was subsequently sent to judicial custody.