Masked gang assaults 75-yr-old bizman, robs him of Rs 16L, SUV

Coimbatore: A three-member gang broke into a house at Udumalpet in Tirupur and made away with Rs 16 lakh and a compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) after assaulting the 75-year-old homeowner in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the Udumalpet police, three masked men entered the house of V Palanisamy on Dhali Road at Elaiyamuthur Pirivu around 2am on Sunday by breaking open the main door.
Palanisamy and his wife, a police officer said, were sleeping in separate bedrooms on the ground floor of the house, while his son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren were on the first floor.
“The gang entered Palanisamy’s bedroom, assaulted him with a sickle and tied his hands. They took away Rs 16 lakh and digital video recorder of CCTV cameras and sped away in his compact SUV,” the officer said.
Palanisamy, who owns a fertiliser shop named Senthil Murugan Agro Service at Udumalpet, managed to come out of his bedroom and alerted his wife and other family members, who called up the Udumalpet police.
Deputy superintendent of police Jayachandran and team rushed to the spot and held inquiry with the family members. They also pressed a sniffer dog and forensic experts into service.
Inspector general of police (west zone) K Periaiah, deputy inspector general (Coimbatore range) G Karthikeyan and district superintendent of police Disha Mittal also visited the crime scene.
The Udumalpet police have registered a case and formed two special teams to nab the burglars.