A budding table tennis player, who had dreams of representing India one day, suddenly died on Monday morning after being allegedly beaten up by his father, who was not happy with his recent performances.

Biswajit Bhattacharya (14) collapsed during a practice session on the terrace of his home in South Kolkata's Bansdroni area. He was rushed to a nearly hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The shocking death immediately led to a large gathering of neighbours and relatives, who alleged that the boy died after the demanding father, Deepak Bhattacharya, had beaten him up.

Terming the death as, "unnatural", Superintendent of Police (South 24 Pargana), S N Gupta, said that the father has been detained for interrogation while the boy's body has been sent for post-mortem.

Biswajit's sister alleged that the father was not happy with the boy's recent performance after he lost in a tournament, and during a practice session on Monday morning hit him on the head following which the boy collapsed.

Biswajit had earlier played in a number of state-level tournaments.

The police had a tough time rescuing the victim's father as his relatives and neighbours attacked him.