Karimnagar: The owner of a rice mill died while being treated after sustaining serious injuries on his head when his driver, in a fit of rage, attacked him with a spade for allegedly delaying his salary in the Suddala village of Sultanabad mandal on Tuesday. Sultanabad inspector T. Srinivasa Rao said the murdered employer was identified as Kadari Sampath Rao, 32, the owner of Sri Raja Rajeshwari Rice Mill located in the village.

He had engaged Mekala Kumar as the driver of his lorry two months back. Kumar hit Sampath Rao on the head with a spade after heated arguments with his employer over the delay in the payment of his salary for the month of January.

Sampath had paid the December salary to Kumar. But, he was reluctant to pay the January salary as Kumar was irregular. This angered Kumar, police said. Sampath Rao is survived by his wife and year-old son. Following the incident, a pall of gloom descended over the village. Residents of the village rushed to Rao’s residence and condoled his wife. The police registered a case. A manhunt is on to nab the driver who is absconding.