The sheer presence of mind and a dogged pursuit by an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police and his colleagues attached to Mangaluru City Police Commissioner’s office on Wednesday resulted in the arrest of a gang of robbers operating in the city.
While Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar was leaving for lunch on Wednesday, he and other personnel saw a man giving a chase to another in Nehru Maidan, opposite his office. The Police Commissioner told his colleagues to see what was happening. Assistant Sub-Inspector Varun and other personnel gave a chase to the two and brought them to office.
On inquiry, one of them told the police that the other, along with his accomplices, had snatched his mobile phone and was running away. The accused was identified as Shamanth, a resident of Attavar. The snatched mobile phone was with his accomplices. The police asked Shamanth to call his accomplices and tell them to come to Mangaluru Central Railway Station.
As the police followed Shamanth near Hampankatte, one of his accomplices, Harish Poojari, sensed danger and made an attempt to flee by boarding an autorickshaw. Immediately, Varun gave chase to the autorickshaw and pulled Poojari out. The suspect got off the vehicle only to flee from the spot. Varun then pursued him and pinned him down. He asked passers-by to help him secure the suspect.
Mangaluru South Police have registered a case of robbery and are on the look-out for another accused, Rajesh, a resident of Ullal, who is said to be part of the gang.
Complimenting the personnel led by Varun, Mr. Shashi Kumar announced a cash reward of ₹10,000 for them on Thursday. He said that the arrest of the gang members will help the police crack cases of robbery in the city.