Bengaluru: In a bizarre incident, a nine-year-old boy died after accidentally swallowing a pen cap at Machakanur village of Mudhol taluk of Bagalkot district.

According to the police, the deceased is Muttappa Birajoi. The boy developed breathing difficulties and was rushed to a private hospital in Bagalkot city. He was operated and the pen cap was removed successfully, but he died on Tuesday night, said police.

Soon after the death, the parents of the boy staged a protest at the hospital claiming that the boy died due to medical negligence and demanded the arrest of the doctor who performed the surgery. Later, the body was taken for a post-mortem to find out the reason for the death. The protest was withdrawn after an assurance from the police that if the doctor is found guilty, a case will be registered against him.

According to the locals, the hospital belongs to local MLA Veeranna Charantimutt of the BJP.