An ex-serviceman was beaten to death on a footpath opposite the officer’s mess, Southern Command, in Pune Cantonment. The man has been identified as Ravindra Kumar Bali.

According to reports, the 67-year-old was a retired Captain of the Indian Army who had been living on the footpath in makeshift tent for the last five years.

He was attacked in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. According to the police, Bali died of multiple head injuries at the Sassoon general hospital. He was found lying in a pool of blood by a security guard. Reports quoting the police say that the guard saw two assailants attacking Bali.

According to reports, Bali was a graduate of the National Defence Academy and served with the Indian Army for about 18 years. He was forced to leave service to take care of his ailing parents.

Since he could not complete 20 years in service, Bali was not entitled to pension.

The police are investigating the killing and have registered a case under section 302 of the IPC.