Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Oct 10: It was indeed a surprise for the complainant as his two-wheeler which went missing some 21 months ago was traced by the complainant himself after chasing down his lost vehicle on Monday, October 9 at Lalbagh Mangaluru. Nagaraj chased down his lost bike from Lalbagh to Bunts hostel.

Nagaraj, coordinator of Hasiru Dala lost his bike in March 2022 near Hotel Roopa Hampankatta. He visited the traffic police then to confirm whether his two-wheeler had been towed but instead found that his two-wheeler had been indeed stolen. Nagaraj then filed a complaint with Bunder police station where cops checked the CCTV footage where it was found that youngster had stolen his vehicle with such ease without any effort as if it was his own vehicle. Police continuously searched to find Nagaraj’s lost vehicle but in vain. Police even told Nagaraj that it would be difficult to trace the vehicle if it was parked in a deserted place and that it could be traced only if the bike came out.

On October 9, Nagaraj was at his office and had to deliver a courier following the absence of a staffer. When he reached Jayalakshmi outlet he found his blue colour Bajaj Avenger and he ascertained that it was indeed his lost vehicle as his eyes fell on its number plate. Thereafter, Nagaraj followed the vehicle from Lalbagh slowly and ensured that the bike rider did not doubt him. He followed him till he reached Jail road where the bike was stuck at Bunts hostel due to a traffic jam. Nagaraj immediately approached the rider and took the bike’s key.

Bike which was parked in building basement

An elderly person was riding the bike, When questioned the elderly person said his boss had given him the bike. Later, the man’s boss was also questioned who said the bike was parked in the basement of a building near Hotel Roopa since one year and had gathered a lot of dust with the unused key and helmet as well. So, the boss had asked one of his employees to use the vehicle and the elderly person had therefore cleaned the vehicle and started using it.

Later, Nagaraj along with the rider visited the police station and on enquiry the bike was handed over to the owner on October 9.

Speaking to daijiworld.com, Nagaraj said, “When I was in the Gulf, the bike was bought for my brother perhaps in the year 2017 by availing a loan. It was my first vehicle. It was disheartening for me that my first vehicle went missing. I haven’t bought any other vehicle after the Avenger went missing as I was emotionally to my first vehicle. I was using an old model of Pleasure that was owned by my father. To my luck on October 9, I had to deliver a courier and I traced my vehicle which was right in front of me. It was some kind of a miracle that a two wheeler which had gone missing more than a year nine months ago was found right in front of my eyes.

My bike was being riden by an elderly man although it was stolen by a youngster. Even the rider showed the picture of my bike which was parked in a building basement. I had kept one set of the keys of the bike with me hoping that one day my vehicle will be found and the way it was found was a miracle,”

Nagaraj also said, ‘When the bike had remained parked and had remained abandoned in a building basement for more than a year, the building owner should have filed a complaint with the police against it.”

Meanwhile, the police is yet to verify the statement of the building owner since the CCTV footage does not show the actual thief who stole the bike.

Nagaraj from Hasiru Dala is the same person who is seen holding placards at Adyar to raise awareness on disposing garbage on the highway.