Mangaluru: 47-year-old Basheer, who was brutally assaulted by a gang of four persons on the night of January 3, breathed his last this morning, January 7, after battling for his life for the last three days.

The attack on Basheer was carried out in retaliation for the brutal murder of Deepak Rao on the afternoon of January 3 at Katipalla.

Four persons – Shrijith PK (25) resident of Uppala Kasargod, Kishan Poojary (21) resident of Padil, Dhanush Poojary (22) resident of Padil and Sandesh Kotian resident of Manjeshwara, who were arrested by CCB police subsequently on January 6, had barged into the food outlet being run by Basheer at Kottara Chowki on the night of January 3 when he was about to close for the day. The group assaulted Basheer with lethal weapons while he made a dash for his life. Rohith and Shekhar, both ambulance drivers, had found Basheer lying in a pool of blood by the roadside and rushed him to AJ Hospital.

A huge crowd has gathered at the hospital. ADGP Kamal Pant, Mangaluru City Commissioner T R Suresh, DCP (law & order) Hanumanthraya and DCP (Crime & Traffic) visited the hospital to take stock of the situation.

MLA Moideen Bava, who had arrived to pay his respects to the aggrieved family here, while speaking to media persons informed that the family will await the arrival of Basheer’s younger son, who is employed abroad, for the funeral. “Since there are some visa issues involved, I have spoken to Dr. BR Shetty and other concerned persons to expedite the process,” he added.

The family, it is gathered, has decided not to hold a funeral procession.

A compensation of Rs 10 lakhs has been announced by DC Senthil for the victim’s family.