Dacoits attack, rob chocolate dealer and six others

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A 44-year-old Cadbury chocolate dealer and six others have been brutally attacked and robbed by a gang of six unidentified armed robbers at the former’s sales office near BDA office in Nagarbhavi 9th block. All the victims being treated. The dealer and his four employees were counting the days’ collection when the gang barged in and attacked them with machetes and other deadly weapons. Two other victims are professional CCTV installers. A complaint has been registered with Annapoorneshwarinagar police station.

The incident happened between 6.40 pm and 6.50 pm on Monday in Nagarbhavi.

T.E. Kedaranath, a resident of Banashankari 2nd stage who is the owner of the Vasudha Agency, has filed a complaint in this regard. Kedaranath was the first to be attacked by the accused. The injured six are identified as Manju, Jeevan, Adarsh, Raju, Vinay and Rajendra. The gang has escaped with Rs 6.5 lakhs in cash that was kept in an iron almirah in the agency. The gang, after attacking the four employees and the CCTV technicians, also robbed them of their cash and mobile phones. The total amount of money that has been robbed is being ascertained.

Along with dealing Cadbury chocolates, the businessman was also supplying a reputed company’s spices to shops across South Bengaluru. Of the six victims, Adarsh and Rajendra had come to the office to repair a defunct CCTV. When the repair work was going on, the unidentified robbers barged inside the office and closed the doors from inside.

“Without giving the victims time to react, the gang started attacking them with the machetes. All the victims have sustained injuries to their shoulders, hands and rear part. Within 10 minutes, the gang escaped with the cash and mobile phones. It appears that the accused were aware that the CCTV in the office was not working. We suspect that the gang is aware of the office functioning. Role of an insider is also being suspected,” said an officer based on the statements of the chocolate dealer.

The injured seven were rushed to a nearby hospital. As it was a medico legal case, the hospital reported the matter to the local police. Police rushed to the hospital and recorded the victim’s statements. They are checking footage of CCTV cameras in the vicinity to gain more clarity on the accused and their movement.

A case of dacoity (IPC 395) as well as use of deadly weapons by causing grievous hurt to victims at the time of committing dacoity (IPC 397) has been registered against the six unidentified dacoits.