• Assaults one of them with blade, makes away with Rs.20,000
• Residents blame lack of streetlights on the stretch

Mysuru: A scooter rider was waylaid, assaulted with a blade and robbed of Rs.20,000 last night on the Jodi Thenginamara Road at Bannimantap. Criminals took advantage of the lack of streetlights on the stretch that has a grave yard.

The incident occurred at 11.30 pm when Khalid and Shafiq, residents of Vande Matharam Slum, were proceeding on their scooter from Bannimantap to Highway Circle. As they crossed the Indira Canteen on the road and neared the gates of the graveyard, a group of four men waylaid them and assaulted Shafiq. They then swiped a blade on Shafiq’s face and demanded money.

A bleeding Shafiq handed over Rs.20,000 from his pocket. Not stopping at this, the criminals assaulted Shafiq and Khalid, who raised an alarm unable to bear the assault. Hearing their cries, some public rushed to their help and the assaulters fled the spot after abandoning their bike.

Shafiq has been admitted at the K.R. Hospital and a case has been registered at Narasimharaja Police Station. A Garuda team visited the crime scene and collected information. Initial investigation has revealed that the Suzuki Samurai bike that the criminals came in was a stolen bike and the Police are making efforts to trace the owner.

The Police have a tough task here as the bike has two registration number plates.

Blaming the incident on the lack of streetlights, residents have said that though the Jodi Thenginamara Road was recently widened, the authorities have not bothered to light up the area with streetlights. “While there is a constant movement of tucks in the morning that is causing frequent traffic jams, the road has become a haven for anti-social elements. Lack of streetlights and Police patrolling have proved a boon to robbers,” said residents.

Robbers usually target people who are on two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws. They even target people who are walking on the road. “Under the cover of darkness, a lot of illegal activities take place on this road and people even consume whiteners, drugs and alcohol and attack people in an inebriated condition. Since it is a long road that has parapet walls on both sides, we do not know where the criminals are hiding waiting for their victims,” residents said.

They have demanded frequent visits by Garuda and other Police teams so that fear is instilled in the minds of anti-social elements. “First, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) must install streetlights. Having lights on a road acts as a deterrent. After the lights are installed, the Police can bring the road under CCTV surveillance,” they said.

“Many people who come on this road during nights are coolies and small-time vendors who finish their business and return home with just Rs.100 or Rs.200. Even pushcart vendors have been robbed and assaulted on this road,” residents added.