MYSURU: A government school teacher on his way back home to Mysuru in a four-wheeler, along with his wife, was robbed of valuables and cash on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway (NH 275) near Mandya. The robbers armed with daggers threatened and took jewellery and cash from the duo.
Mandya superintendent of police N Yathish said police teams have been formed to crack the robbery on the Expressway. The Expressway is ready for inauguration and the incident has left road users worried.
Nagaraju N, 58, and his wife Jayashri L, residents of Ramakrishna Nagar in south Mysuru, were robbed near Mallaiahna Doddi where they halted for a break around 1.10am on Monday. Before Nagaraju could get inside the car, two youths appeared on the scene out of nowhere and bundled him into his car by keeping a knife to his neck.
Nagaraju told TOI that it was all over in 12 minutes. “I stopped the vehicle near the spot to attend to nature’s call, before I could wash my hand and face and get inside the car, the robbers appeared. One got inside the car, while the other stood near my wife who was in the front seat. They took away our valuables and cash before fleeing from the spot,” he added.
They jumped over the barricade along the road and then disappeared. “We don’t know how they reached the spot and we didn’t see any vehicles” he said. The incident happened when the couple was returning to Mysuru after leaving their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren at their Bengaluru house.
‘Parking light was on during robbery’All through the couple’s ordeal, for about ten minutes, several vehicles passed by them on the Expressway during that time, said Nagaraju.
The car’s parking light was blinking even as the couple were being robbed. One robber was seated behind him while another had opened the left front door and held his wife at knifepoint. Both threatened to harm them if they shouted for any help, said Nagaraju.
Later they left for Mysuru and returned to Mandya early in the day to file a police complaint. Highway patrolling is done on expressway: Police
Mandya superintendent of police N Yathish said highway patrolling is done on the Expressway. An investigation is being carried out into the incident. “Except for a brick kiln factory, there is no house near the spot. Our police team visited the spot and inquired about the workers in the factory. We suspect the hand of nearby residents in the robbery and special teams have been formed to uncover the crime,” the SP said.