Date:22/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/22/stories/2007022220440300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Gang loots cash from a bar, assaults woman

Staff Reporter

Trouble started when the cashier asked his clients to pay for their drinks

Two policemen were injured in the attack

The woman in the neighbouring house was assaulted, robbed

BANGALORE: Six drunken men on Tuesday night assaulted the employees of a bar and restaurant in Madivala police station limits and looted Rs. 20,000 from the cash counter before barging into a neighbouring house and molesting and robbing a woman. The gang attacked two policemen, injuring them on their forearm and wrist.

The police said the rampage took place between 11 p.m. and midnight at NGR Nagar in Roopena Agrahara on Hosur Road.

Shankar, Gunda Ravi, Satish, Jayaram and their two friends had liquor at Lavanya Bar and Restaurant. When the cashier, Bhaskar, asked them to pay the bill, they rained blows on him and robbed him of a gold ring and a wristwatch. They assaulted other employees and the proprietor of the bar, Srinivasa. They then raided the cash counter and took away Rs. 20,000.

The youths then barged into an adjacent house and attempted to rape the housewife.

"They punched me on the face and pulled my sari. When I requested them to treat me as their sister and not to harm me, they abused me in foul language. They snatched my gold earrings and a chain," the sobbing woman told The Hindu on Wednesday.

When her husband came to her rescue, the intruders abused him and kicked him out of the house.

The hooligans assaulted a few women, members of a Mahila Sangha, residing in the locality when they rushed to the rescue of the screaming housewife, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Soumendu Mukherjee said.

Policemen attacked

After the proprietor of the bar telephoned the Madivala police station, assistant sub-inspector Krishne Gowda and constable Somashekar rushed there only to be attacked by the gang. The gang twisted the hands of the constable.

As the situation went out of control, Mr. Mukherjee reached the spot with reinforcement. Two of the youths were arrested immediately and the rest on Wednesday.

The Madivala police have registered cases of dacoity, attempt to rape and assault against the accused.

Mr. Mukherjee said all the arrested were residents of the same locality.

The police had earlier warned them for indecent behaviour and sexual harassment, he said.

One of the women, who was assaulted by the gang, fell at the DCP's feet and requested him to provide security to the women in the area.

The public said the authorities should take steps to get the bar closed immediately as drunken youth have been created nuisance in the area. Women, particularly garment workers who return home from work, have been the soft targets of the hooligans.