Karwar: In a shocking incident, a man was brutally murdered inside a hotel in Mundgod town of Uttara Kannada district late Friday night. The incident occurred at Ambika Hotel, located opposite the Mundgod bus stand.

The deceased has been identified as Zameer Ahmed Dargawale, who had reportedly arrived at the hotel around 11 pm along with a friend for dinner. 

According to preliminary information, Zameer had asked his friend to step out to buy cigarettes when a group of four to five unidentified assailants stormed into the hotel and launched a sudden attack.

Eyewitnesses stated that the attackers first threw chilli powder into Zameer’s eyes, leaving him disoriented. In an attempt to escape, he ran towards the kitchen area of the hotel. However, the assailants chased him down, overpowered him, and fatally assaulted him by slashing his neck with a sharp weapon.

The hotel owner, alarmed by the incident, immediately alerted the police. Mundgod police rushed to the scene, initiated an investigation, and began collecting evidence. The body has been shifted to a local government hospital for post-mortem examination.

Sources revealed that about one and a half years ago, Zameer had been kidnapped for ransom, with the abductors demanding ₹30 lakh for his release. In that case, Mundgod police had successfully traced and arrested the accused in a swift operation. Investigators are now probing whether the present murder is linked to that earlier incident.

A case has been registered, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding accused. Police said the investigation is in progress from multiple angles.

SP Visits Mundgod:

Following the murder of Zameer Ahmed in Mundgod, Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Deepan M. N. arrived from Karwar on Saturday morning. He visited the hotel, inspected the crime scene, and later told the media that three special teams have been formed to ensure the swift arrest of the accused.