Mysore/Mysuru: Two strangers, posing as passengers, who hired an autorickshaw, allegedly robbed the driver of his belongings before fleeing with the three-wheeler near Makanahundi in the outskirts in Mysuru taluk recently.

Nagesh Nayak, aged 63 years and resident of Ganesh Nagar in the city, is the victim, who was robbed of Rs. 6,000 and cellphone and also of his autorickshaw.

Nayak was near Gun House Circle on June 16 at around 6.20 pm, when two persons stopped him. They hired his auto for a fare of Rs. 150 to Bandipalya. After reaching Bandipalya, the two directed Nayak to go towards Hosahundi Road. Even after reaching Hosahundi, one among the passengers directed him to go further towards a farm house nearby, to fetch his wife to drop her to the bus stand in the same auto, to go to Bengaluru.

By the time they reached the place (Makanahundi), it was 7.20 pm and they asked him to stop there. They threw chilli powder on the head and face of Nayak, before assaulting him and robbing of Rs. 6,000 and his cellphone. As they continued to assault him, Nayak escaped from them and ran towards a banana plantation, for his life. The two miscreants later drove away with the autorickshaw of Nayak.

A case has been registered at Mysuru Rural Police Station.

It may be mentioned that, Varuna Police had recently busted a similar case and arrested a few. Of late, there has been a rise in cases with similar modus operandi where the miscreants hire autorickshaws in the guise of passengers from Gun House Circle and rob the driver and flee with their vehicles, after reaching Hosahundi. It has created an atmosphere of fear among autorickshaw drivers, who fret at the mention of passengers hiring auto towards Bandipalya in the evening hours.