Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Mar 26: A three-member gang waylaid a truck, robbed its driver and stole some items from the truck. The incident happened at Shirdigudde in Golithottu village on national highway 75 near Uppinangady in the early hours of Monday, March 2.

The truck loaded with different products of Hindustan Lever Ltd like soap, washing powder etc was moving towards Mangaluru from Chikkaballapur when a three-member gang which arrived in a white colour Indica car without number plate intercepted the truck. The trio gagged the truck driver, identified as Ambareesh from Pandavapura in Mandya district, assaulted him, tied him up, and forcibly took away Rs 5,200 and a cell phone belonging to him.

The robbery came to light when another truck of the company came that way at around 5.30 am. Ambareesh, who was unconscious, was shifted to a hospital at Nelyady where he is said to be recovering. A case about the incident was filed in Uppinangady police station.

The thieves apparently broke open three boxes inside the truck and left the boxes after scattering the things around. It appears that they were looking for something. They also took away some boxes with them, it is said. It is also reported that a jeep was found moving here and there some distance away from the spot of robbery, and it is suspected that the jeep was providing cover to the assailants.

This incident brought back memories of a similar incident which happened during the previous Lok Sabha election. In that incident, driver of a lorry was tied up and robbed at Panjala in Uppinangady. Accused in the case are still at large.

The police said they are investigating the matter and hope to get some clues about what the robbers were searching for.