Bengaluru's KHB Road a mugger's weekend getaway

A gang of muggers, apparently on prowl along KHB Main Road in Kanakanagara near Manyata Tech Park in North Bengaluru, has been robbing people every weekend for the past few months.

The four-member gang recently attempted to rob the owner of a wine store while he was returning home after business hours. The gang hit him with a beer bottle and tried snatching his bag, but he managed to escape. Residents say the muggers target people on the stretch which falls under three police station limits.

Murali R, 47, who owns Nanjundeshwara Wines on KHB Road, resides in Kaveri Nagar. Around 10.50 pm, he was riding home on his motorbike. He carried a lunch bag with the day’s cash collection. Two miscreants crashed their Honda Dio on Murali’s vehicle to make him lose balance and fall. But Murali maintained controlled of the vehicle, even as another mugger tried snatching his bag.

“I pushed the miscreant and tried to leave the place, but the other one hit on my head with a beer bottle,” Murali said. Despite their robbery attempt, a profusely bleeding Murali continued to ride on his bike, but two others on a Bajaj Pulsar blocked his way.

“All of them tried to rob me, but a car was passing by then. I rode adjacent to the car and got home,” Murali said. The muggers followed him home, but Murali hurried inside the locked the gates. They waited for two minutes and left the place. Murali went to Baptist Hospital with his family to treat his head injury.

During the weekends, the muggers said to target people taking the road from Manyata Tech Park for shopping. Most of them do not file complaints as they are outsiders.

Ramesh, a resident of KHB Road, said muggers robbed a gold chain last week near Veeranapalya. He suspects that youngsters taking drugs resort to mugging.

Murali says KHB falls under three police station jurisdictions: Hebbal, DJ Halli and KG Halli. There is little patrolling by the police on this road, providing a safe haven for muggers who shifted to the outskirts since police tightened security in prime neighbourhoods.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) S D Sharanappa said he would look into the issue and take action.