Bus hijack: Yard owner files trespass plaint

The owner of the yard where the “hijacked” Kannur-bound private bus was parked late on Friday filed a complaint against the accused for trespassing into his property.

Four men posing as police officers had hijacked the tourist bus with 43 passengers on board. The accused are suspected to be recovery agents.

Kishore B.M., owner of Pleriplus yard, situated in Pattanagere, told the police that his firm had tied up with several banks and financial firms to provide parking space for seized vehicles, but had no connections with the accused.

In his complaint to the Rajarajeshwari Nagar police on Saturday, he said that one among the accused, identified as Prakara Gowda, who was driving the bus, threatened the security guard and forced open the doors to drive the bus into the yard with the passengers.

Mr. Kishore said the security guard noticed that there were around 45 passengers, including women and children, inside the bus and offered to help get them out. However, the passengers refused stating that they had informed the police and would come out only after their arrival, he said.

The accused soon fled the scene before the police could reach the spot, following which the police detained the security guards for questioning.

Meanwhile, the police have continued their search for more accused who are on the run.