Armed ‘patients’ rob unwary doctor

Police turned up an hour after the men pulled a knife and fled with cash and valuables.

A 40-year-old doctor got a shock on Saturday night when two armed robbers, pretending to be patients, casually walked into his clinic in Okalipuram and decamped with his valuables and cash. When he sought assistance from the city police, the lone constable at the Srirampura police station said he was helpless, being the only one present at the station. The police team arrived more than an hour after the suspects had fled the scene.

The victim, Dr J Subramani of KJM Health Care Centre, near Mantri Mall, said in his complaint that two men walked into his clinic at around 8.30 pm, and one of them complained of severe headache and giddiness.

"I was taking a small break as I thought there will be no more patients for the day, when they came in. One of them appeared unwell and I asked him to sit on the patient's stool. Before I could examine him, he took out a dagger," Dr Subramani said.

The doctor's 17-year-oldson, who was with him, had walked out of the room when he saw the accused walking into the clinic, assuming they were patients.

The decoy patient threatened to kill him if he resisted and demanded that he hand over his valuables and cash. His accomplice was carrying a backpack and ordered the doctor to empty out the cash drawer into it.

"In a hurry though, they grabbed the cash and started stuffing it into the bag. One of them also noticed the gold chain on my neck and asked me to hand it over to him," Dr Subramani added.

"My son was outside the clinic waiting near his motorcycle and there was also one more patient waiting outside, but both of them did not realise what was happening inside. They walked out and escaped from the spot with another person who was waiting outside the clinic for them," he said.

The complainant has told the police that the crime seemed to have been planned by someone familiar with his routine and clinic. He pointed out that both suspects knew the exact location of the desk where he kept the cash.

Cops came, and left

After the incident, Subramani called the police control room (100). They took his complaint and dispatched a Hoysala (patrol van) to his location. But when the patrol party reached his clinic and realised the suspects had fled, they gave him the Srirampura police station number and asked him to contact the station.

The cops then left the spot with no further attempts to catch the culprits. To the doctor's surprise, when he called up the station, the constable there had only this to say: "Sir, everyone is out on VIP duty as part of President's visit. I'm the only one here."

Dr Subramani had to contact the police control room and the night patrol team again and the cops finally turned up at the crime scene almost an hour after the suspects fled with valuables.