by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Mysore, Oct.17:  In a lightning and filmy style operation, the city Police nabbed a gang of six who robbed a Tibetan tourist, atop the Chamundi Hill within a couple of minutes.

The gang assaulted Thiakime, 38, resident of Rui Sambat, Rennes, France, with clubs near the Nandi statue this morning and robbed him of Rs. 5,000 in cash, his visa card, ATM card and also his T-shirt.

The Tibetan tourist, now a French citizen, arrived in the city last evening. After alighting at the city bus stand, he checked into Hotel Shastri and visited Chamundi Hill in the morning today.

Narrating the incident he told the K.R. Police that he was way laid by six to eight people near Nandi at around 9.15 am.

"They hit me with clubs on the head and all over my body and demanded to hand over all my valuables," he said adding that they snatched away valuables.

Some road-repair workers nearby, who noticed the commo-tion, alerted a few vendors in the area, who informed the Police Control Room at about 9.45 am.

Inspector Shanthamallappa and his staff rushed to the Hill and spoke to the vendors who told them that the culprits had run down the hill to escape.

The Inspector, standing on an elevated spot, sighted the robbers fleeing towards a particular direction. He then alerted over walkie-talkie the cops posted at the foot of the Hill and gave them the instructions.

The Police, assisted by some villagers, formed a dragnet all along the foothill and caught six of the seven culprits within 30 minutes.

DCP P. Rajendra Prasad told Star of Mysore later that the gang had come from Bangalore by train this morning and that interrogations were on.

The arrested persons are: Mahesha of Therakanambi, Gundlupet taluk, Kumara of Malavalli, Chandra of Besagarahalli, Mandya, Kishore of Malavalli, Chandru of J.P. Nagar, Mandya and Rajakumar of Muganooru, Gulbarga. Their accomplice Hubli alias Raju is at large.