THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: According to the police, P Pradip, a native of Mavelikara, who is a postal assistant at the Poonthura post office, was beaten to death in an altercation after being teased inside the bar in Poojappura.

The first accused in the case, Ratip (35), a native of Trikkanapuram Society Road, the second accused, Anup (31), a native of Vijayamohini Mill, the third accused, Arun (31) alias ‘Kattayum Padavum’, a native of Thirumala, and the fourth accused, Jerin (35), a native of Society Road, were remanded on Thursday. The police intensified the search for the absconding Thirumala natives Rajesh and Shamnad.

The police said that both groups were under the influence of alcohol. Pradip's body was handed over to his relatives on Thursday after post-mortem. An argument over a drunken prank at a bar resulted in the murder. Pradip, who was a regular at the bar in Poojapura, used to walk to the Hillview Hotel where he was staying after drinking. His brother Pramod was also with Pradip on the day of the incident. Pramod came all the way from Mumbai to be along with his brother. On the day of the incident, both of them reached the bar in Poojapura around 9.30 pm. After some time, the six accused in the incident came to the bar and got seated near them.

The two parties talked amicably inside the bar. However, after getting out of the bar premises, Ratip took a jibe at Pramod and asked him with a sardonic tone whether he was a 'don' in Mumbai or what. This remark irked Pradip and a verbal exchange took place. Pramod played mediator and took away his brother from the gang. They were just 500m away near the Union back premise when Ratip and gang circled them. Ratip shouted expletives and mercilessly thrashed the brothers. Even after many beatings, Ratip felt unable to quell his anger, so he took up Pradip and slammed him on the ground, which resulted in blood oozing out. The sight alarmed the gang and they fled in minutes' time. Both Pradip and Pramod had to lay unconscious near the footpath till 4 am in the morning.

When Pramod regained consciousness at 4 am, he informed the police control room that his brother was lying in a pool of blood. Pramod informed the control room that he and his brother had been beaten up by a group. After 10 minutes the control room vehicle arrived from Poojappura station. When the police examined the unconscious Pradeep, there was no movement. An ambulance was then called and Pradip was rushed to the hospital, but he couldn't be saved. Doctors said Pradip died exactly 10 minutes after he was slammed to the ground, due to blood clotting.