Dacoits strike at Dobbspet, open fire

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, AUG. 21. An eight-member gang of dacoits struck at a house in Dobbspet on Tumkur Road early on Tuesday. The gang assaulted all the four inmates of the house and opened fire at neighbours before fleeing with valuables. Five persons were wounded in the firing.

The gang took away Rs. 50,000 in cash, 300 grams of gold jewellery and four kg. of silver articles, all worth over Rs. 1 lakh.

Seven persons, including three inmates of the house of Mr. Kati Byarappa (57), a village accountant, have been admitted to hospitals. While three are convalescing in Raghavendra Nursing Home in T.Dasarahalli, the others have been admitted to the Victoria Hospital here. Another injured man was treated at the Government Hospital in Tumkur.

Mr. Byrappa, who received serious head injuries, is in the intensive care unit of the Raghavendra Nursing Home in T.Dasrahalli.

The dacoits used a single-barrel gun to scare away the neighbours who tried to help the inmates.

It is said that the assailants, armed with pistols, clubs and rods, tried to break into the house of Mr. Basaveswara, a travel agent, on Wari Road in Dobbspet. Later, they struck at the house of Mr. Byrappa.

According to the inmates of the house and neighbours, the dacoits smashed the door of the house. Even as Mr. Byrappa rushed to the door with a rod in his hand, his son, Mr. Ashok (28), who runs a telephone booth, prevented him from confronting the assailants. The dacoits assaulted Mr. Byrappa, who fell unconscious, and Mr. Ashok. They later their attention on Ms. Puttahonnamma (50), Mr. Byrappa's wife, and Ms. Shubhamangala (25), his daughter. All of them suffered serious head injuries.

The gang ransacked the room, the cupboard and took away all the valuables. The dacoits snatched ornaments worn by women. They even cut the ear of Ms. Puttahonnamma to take her ear-ring.

Meanwhile, alarmed by the shouts for help, some of the neighbours came out. Ms. Somibai, who turned on the light and came out, was injured when the gang fired at her. The neighbours were asked to stay away. When some of them did not heed, the gang fired at them. A couple, Mr. Muniappa and Ms. Rathanamma, and Mr. Mallikarjun were injured. All those who were hit by pellets, were admitted to the Victoria Hospital.

Mr. Ramanna was lucky as he received only a minor injury as the pellets hit a huge stone, near which he was standing.

Although the police station is only a few yards from the house of Mr. Byrappa, police reportedly took 30 minutes to reach the spot.

SI suspended

Our Tumkur Staff Correspondent writes:

Mr. Bhaskar Rao, Superintendent of Police, Bangalore Rural District, has suspended the Police Sub-Inspector of the Dobbespet Police Station, Mr. Prabhushankar, and the Head Constable (Dafedar), Mr. Basavaraju, on charges of deriliction of duty.

In a communication reaching here late this evening, Mr. Rao said the officials were suspended in the background of a dacoity of a house in Dobbespet last night. The suspensions were subject to enquiry.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Centre should decide on reintroducing octroi: TNN
Next     : Festival brings them grief