Shopkeeper killed by customer in Odisha over Rs 40

A grocery shop owner was brutally murdered for Rs 40 in Odisha’s Bhadrak. The deceased has been identified as Bijay Panda. Bijay used to run a grocery shop at Patharadi Chhak under Town Police limits.

On Wednesday, he opened his shop as per his daily routine. But things soon turned ugly after a customer turned up at his shop and purchased goods worth Rs 180. Bijay entered into an argument with the customer as he only paid Rs 140 against the total bill through his digital wallet. When Bijay demanded the balance of Rs 40, the customer allegedly thrashed him.

As per reports, the customer allegedly pushed Bijay and his head hit the ground, leaving him seriously injured. Bijay was immediately rushed to Bhadrak district headquarters hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

“My uncle had gone to the shop and then we got a call informing about the incident. We don’t know what happened and later came to know that the customer abused my uncle after he demanded balance money against the goods purchased from our shop,” said Nalini Panda, a relative of the deceased.

Nalini further alleged that the accused customer stays in ward number 2 and is an anti-social element. “We want justice and stern action should be taken against the accused,” he added.

Senior Police offiicials said that the body has been sent for postmortem and appropriate legal action will be taken after ascertaining the cause of death. Meanwhile, the accused customer is said to be absconding.