Thrissur: A bar employee was stabbed to death in Puthukkad following a dispute over repeated demands for 'touchings' (side dishes). The incident took place around 11.40 pm on Sunday outside May Fair Bar in Puthukkad.

The deceased is Hemachandran (62), a resident of Nelluvayi, Erumapetty. Puthukkad police arrested the accused, Sijo John (40), of Alagapanagar, Amballur, within hours of the incident.

Earlier that day, the accused had visited the bar and got into a heated argument with the staff, demanding multiple servings of touchings with his drink. He reportedly left the premises after threatening the employees. Notably, Hemachandran was not involved in that altercation.

The attack occurred when Hemachandran returned to the bar after having tea from a nearby stall, following the bar’s closure. While he was locking the gate, Sijo arrived at the scene and stabbed him twice in the neck without provocation, before fleeing.

Hemachandran, who sustained severe injuries, was rushed to Puthukkad Taluk Hospital and later shifted to a private hospital in Thrissur, but he succumbed to his injuries.

The police launched an intensive investigation and apprehended the accused shortly thereafter.