Bengaluru: A civil contractor was hacked to death by a group of men in the early hours of Sunday, minutes after he told them off for smoking and creating a ruckus in front of his house in Ashoknagar. The police have identified the victim as Harish, 32.

According to the police, Harish woke up from his sleep due to a commotion outside his house on B Street at Ashokanagar. He saw a procession passing by and four youths standing near the gate at 2 am.

According to the police, he reprimanded them and asked them not to smoke as it was bad for their health. They got into a heated argument but dispersed after Harish told them to leave the area. However, within minutes, the four men returned with their friends, who were armed, and started abusing Harish. The verbal abuse escalated and the gang attacked Harish with knives and choppers before fleeing.

With the help of some neighbours, the family shifted Harish to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The police are yet to identify the attackers. They have checked CCTV camera footage from in and around the area.

Harish’s parents, brother, and his wife and child were in the house when he was attacked. The police are not ruling out the possibility that the murder was premeditated.