35-year-old painter murdered

BANGALORE: A painter was allegedly murdered by his friends over financial disputes at Chowdeshwari wedding hall on Magadi Road in Kamakshipalya police station limits late on Monday night. The police have arrested a person in connection with the incident.The victim has been identified as Upendra (35). He was working as a painter in Shivajinagar and used to go to the wedding hall to sleep during nights and he had become friends with the accused.  Somashekhar, a worker of the wedding hall, has been arrested in connection with the incident. The other accused, Ravi and Shankar, are absconding and police have launched search operation to nab them.According to the police, sometime back, Upendra had borrowed  `10,000 from Somashekhar. Though the latter repeatedly asked him to return his money, Upendra failed to do so. On Monday night, Somashekhar, along with the other two accused, forced Upendra to return his money. At this juncture, there was a heated argument among them. In a fit of rage, the accused took a stick and hit Upendra on his head.   Though the victim was shifted to NIMHANS, he succumbed to his injuries, the police added.