Mangaluru: The Bunder police arrested a man on the charges of murdering a lamp vendor for money.

The victim is Mayavel Periyasamy from Salem in Tamil Nadu. The accused is identified as Ravi alias Vakeel Naik (42) from Hoovinahadagali.

Periyasamy and his wife were selling clay lamps near Alake Market. Ravi was selling vegetables at Bhavanthi Street in the city. During Deepavali celebrations, Ravi was also  selling clay lamps and was purchasing them from Periyasamy. Ravi, assuming that Periyasamy was in possession of huge money, lured him to Kuloor ground and stabbed him.

However, Periyasamy was found to have just Rs 30 in his purse, the police said.

Based on a missing complaint filed by Periyasamy’s wife, the police launched a search and stumbled on skull and bones lying near Kuloor ground. A team, led by Inspector Raghavendra, succeeded in arresting Ravi.

During interrogation, Ravi reportedly confessed to murdering Periyasamy for Rs 30.