Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Jun 12: A man who had ventured into River Netravati to take bath was attacked by two persons, who robbed his cellphone and cash. The incident occurred at Uppinangady on Saturday June 11. Members of general public succeeded in catching hold of one of the culprits and handing him over to the police. The other robber succeeded in running away.
The arrested man has been identified as Abhijit, a resident of Bantwal. He was accompanied by another robber during the attack.
Vishwanath Poojary from Kadaba had undertaken pilgrimage to Tirumala Tirupati. Early morning on Saturday he had arrived at Uppinangady. As there were no buses to his native place immediately, he had planned to take bath in River Netravati and then visit the local temple before proceeding to his village. He got down into the river from the side of Netravati bridge near the bus stand.
Two youngsters suddenly appeared in the darkness from nowhere, hit Poojary at will, and snatched away his cellphone and cash. The youngsters ran towards the temple through the river. Vishwanath Poojary raised an alarm. When a person on the other side asked Poojary, he was told about the gang of robbers.
The locals immediately got busy with the task of finding out the robbers. They went near the temple and saw the two young robbers there. When they chased the duo, one of them ran to safety, while the other one was caught from near Lord Ganapati temple at car street. On verification, the people found him to be in possession of five cellphones. He was thereafter handed over to Uppinangady police. The policemen thereafter handed over the cellphone and cash robbed from him to Vishwanath Poojary.
It is said that in the past too, several incidents of lone persons passing through the river in dark conditions having been robbed had happened here but rarely did people complain. The locals, who suspect that an organized gang might be at work in the town, have urged the police to investigate the robbers properly rather than allowing them to go Scot free after registering case of pickpocket.