Mandya: A 21-year-old youth has been brutally stabbed near the Railway track at Kallahalli Layout in the town on Saturday midnight.

The deceased youth has been identified as Rakshit alias Rakshi, son of Ramakrishna and Prema couple and a resident of Yaliyuru village in the taluk.

Rakshit, who had planned to start dairy farming, had been to the farm till Saturday afternoon and came back home for lunch. Later, he left his house saying that he was going to the gym with his friends.

But at about 11 pm, a group of youths is said to have attacked Rakshit with lethal weapons near the Railway track at Kallahalli Layout and had stabbed him brutally, it is learnt. But Rakshit, who managed to flee for about 200 mts, hid himself near a compound, from where he called his friends and brother Rahul from his phone and informed them about the incident.

Rakshit’s friend Vinay, who rushed to the spot, shifted him to MIMS Hospital in Mandya and was shifting him to a hospital in Mysuru on the advice from the doctors, where Rakshit is said to have breathed his last midway.

Rakshit is also a rowdy-sheeter and his name has been included in the list of rowdy-sheeters at Mandya Rural Police Station. It is learnt that about two months ago, Rakshit had assaulted a youth from Holalu village and his friends had called him to speak about the issue. But a group of five youths, who had come prepared, allegedly stabbed Rakshit with knives and daggers.

Superintendent of Police (SP) N. Yatish, Dy.SP Manjunath and staff visited the spot and conducted preliminary investigation.

Four persons have been taken into custody for questioning, it is learnt and a case has been registered at Mandya West Police Station.