Kanpur: A 40-year-old grocery shopkeeper, Vikas Gautam alias Sonu, died after he was allegedly assaulted by Kapil Yadav, son of a retired sub-inspector, over an accusation of mobile phone theft in Hanumant Vihar late Friday night, police said.The shopkeeper suffered a serious head injury after he fell to the ground during the assault and lost consciousness. He was first taken by local residents to a nearby private hospital and later referred to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Police arrived after neighbours informed them and took the accused into custody.Maya Devi, a resident of Hanumant Vihar and the mother of the deceased, said she was at home at the time of the incident. She said her son told her on Friday afternoon that his mobile phone had been stolen and accused Kapil Yadav, who lived in the neighbourhood, of the theft.She said that when Kapil passed outside their house, her son asked him to return the mobile phone, after which an argument broke out. During the altercation, Kapil allegedly lost his temper and began beating Vikas, punching him in the face, causing him to stagger and fall headfirst to the ground.Maya Devi said that when she raised an alarm, neighbours came running and Kapil fled while issuing threats. She alleged that Kapil used to make her son spend money on alcohol, and that on Friday afternoon he consumed alcohol with her son and stole his mobile phone. She said that when her son raised the issue, the accused beat him to death.Hanumant Vihar police SHO Rajeev Singh said, “The man’s death appears to have resulted from falling to the ground during the assault.”He said the accused was taken into custody and added, “A report will be registered and action taken on the basis of the post-mortem report and written complaint.”
