A 40-year-old lecturer working at a government Industrial Training Institute was brutally murdered by a group of miscreants on Monday late night in Belthangady. The deceased identified as Vikram Jain was serving as a lecturer at the college in Kolpadabail, Madanthyar. Two accused Nagesh Poojary(32) and another person has been taken into custody by the police.

According to Belthangady police, on Tuesday morning, a group of unidentified men hacked him to death near Kotikatte in Belthangady taluk. "The gang had pre-planned the murder," police said. As per the preliminary investigation, it is revealed that the victim was in love with a relative of the first accused. The second accused had a rivalry over the property with the victim.

Friends and neighbours of the victim invited him for a party on Monday night. When they were all under the influence of alcohol, the victim was first stabbed and then hacked to death with lethal weapons. Based on a complaint by the victim's brother, a case under section 302 of the IPC has been registered with Belthangady police. To trace other culprits, a special team has been formed under Belthangady circle inspector and further investigation is underway.