Mandya: A labourer, who was brutally beaten by his employer for not coming to work properly and left to die at a field, is now battling for his life at a hospital here.

The critically injured labourer has been identified as 48-year-old Mahadevu, a resident of Aaladahalli village here, while his employer has been identified as Somegowda, owner of a jaggery manufacturing unit at Kotathi village in the taluk.

Mahadevu, who was working at the jaggery manufacturing unit owned by Somegowda at Kotathi village since about 15 years, had stayed home since few days due to illness. Irked over Mahadevu’s absence, Somegowda, who went to Mahadevu’s house asked him to report to work immediately and threatened him of dire consequences if he (Mahadevu) failed.

Mahadevu, who got afraid of Somegowda’s threat, went to work at the jaggery manufacturing unit on Nov. 20. But Somegowda, instead of putting him to work at the unit took him to a field for work where he allegedly picked up a quarrel with Mahadevu and brutally assaulted him leaving him seriously injured in the field. Unable to move or shout, Mahadevu spent the entire night shivering on the field.

The next day morning (Nov. 21), some villagers who heard someone groaning in pain, went towards the place from where the sounds were coming and saw Mahadevu writhing in pain and badly injured. They then took him to his house from where the family members shifted him to Mandya General Hospital.

Following advice from the doctors at Mandya General Hospital, the family members shifted Mahadevu to Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) where he is put on ventilators and his condition is said to be critical.

Mahadevu’s wife Sakamma in her complaint has stated that Somegowda not only assaulted her husband physically but also abused him using foul language besides speaking ill about their caste and added that Somegowda did not even visit his employee even for courtesy.

Meanwhile, Mahadevu’s family alleged that though Mahadevu is undergoing treatment since about 10 days, the Police were reluctant to register a case.

It is learnt that when the media went to report about the inhuman incident, the Police registered a case on Somegowda and his son Vinod pertaining to assault and caste abuse.

Mandya Rural SI Azaruddin, who has registered a case in this regard, is investigating.