A 62-year-old man who used to run a rehabilitation centre was allegedly hacked to death by inmates of the centre located in West Bengaluru’s Chandra Layout on Friday, the police said.

The victim has been identified as Shivalinga, a resident of West Bengaluru. He had been running the rehabilitation centre for the last eight years, according to the police sources. 

An investigator in the case told The Hindu that the accused used iron rods to beat up the owner. A fatal blow to his head proved critical. “One more person, who also suffered injuries in the melee, is out of danger,” said the officer.

“Shivalinga was attacked on the first floor, and no one had come to the rescue. He died on the spot,” the officer said, adding that they suspect that eight persons may have been involved in the murder, among whom four people attacking the deceased have been identified.

“The eight people have fled from the scene in the victim’s car. They took the keys after Shivalinga collapsed and drove away,” the officer said.

The Chandra Layout police have registered a case under Section 102(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with murder.

The police said that they suspect internal matters and fights may have led to the murde. They have retrieved the CCTV footage from the vicinity and have launched a search operation. The weapons used by the accused were seized.