A four-year-old boy, the son of a migrant worker, was injured by pellets when a plantation owner allegedly opened fire during a scuffle with workers at Balehalli village in Mudigere taluk on Friday (July 25, 2026).

The child was injured when the owner allegedly opened fire to threaten workers from Assam during a heated argument over wages. He was initially taken to the Government Hospital in Mudigere and later shifted to Mangaluru for further treatment. The child is out of danger, and the pellets have been removed, according to the police.

A group of workers from Assam were employed at a plantation belonging to Jagadish. They had demanded wages of ₹400 per day. An argument broke out after Jagadish reportedly said he would pay ₹350 per day and clear the remaining dues later. Jagadish and his brother, Prabhakar Gowda, allegedly argued with the workers. As the argument escalated, Prabhakar Gowda allegedly took out a country-made gun and opened fire.

The child, son of Siddique, one of the workers, was nearby when the incident occurred and suffered pellet injuries.

Mudigere police reached the spot and registered a case against Jagadish and Prabhakar Gowda. Both are absconding. The accused possessed a licensed gun, said the police.