Cops cling on to armed men despite being pepper-sprayed

Two cops clung to suspects for over five minutes with their eyes closed as one of them sprayed pepper into their eyes on Kasavanahalli main road in the wee hours of Thursday.

Police constables Hanumanta Talwara and Ramesh Kambli knew that the men were armed with knives. The security guards and a few members of the public gathered to help the policemen ran for cover as the suspects sprayed pepper on them as well.

However, the Hoysala patrol arrived in five minutes and took the two suspects to police station. The arrested were identified as Manjunatha Patil (20) and Raghavendra Patil (19) both residents of Halanayakanahalli, Junnasandra on Sarjapura Road.

Police said the incident happened around 3.30 am near the Owner’s Court Layout on Kasavanahalli road when Talwara and Kambli, on beat duty, spotted two suspicious looking men on a bike lurking in the area.

One of the men brandished a knife at the intercepting police and tried to flee in the bike, but Talwara chased and held on to the
pillion rider who was nabbed and brought to the security room of the Owner’s Court Layout.

“Around six to seven security guards along with a few locals nearby had gathered at the security room to prevent the two men from escaping,” said Talwara.

By then the two constables called their assistant sub-inspector of police on Hoysala patrol duty nearby. The two cops searched for the bike rider Manjunatha and caught him.

They brought Manjunatha to the security room, where he began spraying pepper from a canister on all present. The guards and locals ran helter-skelter, while the two cops locked the duo from behind and waited until the Hoysala patrol arrived.

“I knew they had daggers and they could have stabbed us, but we kept telling them that we will shoot them if they attacked,” Talwara added.

The Hoysala patrol took the constables to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Bellandur police booked the duo under IPC section 353 - assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duties, and 224 - resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension. Police inspector Victor Simon lauded his men’ tenacity in latching on to the duo.