BENGALURU: Four people kidnapped a 21-year-old woman, who had come to Bengaluru from Rajasthan and was staying in a house in KP Agrahara Dasarahalli, by threatening her with deadly weapons and escaped. Three people have been arrested so far in connection with the case.
In their bid to escape, the kidnappers drove the getaway car haphazardly and hit more than 35 cars including a judge’s, a police car and more than 100 two-wheelers. As the car was registration in Rajasthan, locals chased kidnappers for 9 km, blocked it at 4th Cross road in Vijayanagar Hosahalli, pelted stones and smashed the car and pulled out three people who were in the car. They then thrashed the trio black and blue and handed them over to the Vijayanagar police.
The kidnappers also attacked on those who were chasing them with swords and also crashed into two-wheelers, leaving six people — Prithviraj (12), Yashika (9) Amul (35), Mani (64) and Jayalakshmi (57) — with serious injuries. They have been admitted to a private hospital and are undergoing treatment.
The kidnappers, who were badly thrashed and later arrested by the Magadi Road police are Rakesh (31) Karan (35) and Ayan (18). Saddam, who was driving the car, escaped and Magadi Road police are searching for him. Preliminary investigation revealed that supari was given to the accused to kidnap the woman and take her back to Rajasthan.
The young woman, Pooja, loved a Rajasthani, Om Prakash, got married and came to Bengaluru nine months ago and they were living in KP Agrahara Dasarahalli. Pooja and Omprakash had registered thier marriage in Rajasthan. But as it was an inter-caste marriage, there was severe opposition from both houses.
Om Prakash’s elder brother was living at Chamarajpet in Bengaluru. Eight months ago, Om Prakash and Pooja came from Rajasthan to the brother’s house in Bengaluru. Since then, Omprakash was working as an electrician along with his brother. Just ten days ago, they had shifted to Dasarahalli on Magadi Road.
On Thursday, Om Prakash and his brother had gone for work while his sister-in-law had gone to a shop when the accused allegedly barged into the house and tried to kidnap Pooja. A case has been registered under BNS 137 for kidnapping, 61 (Criminal conspiracy by two or more people) and 110 (Attempt to murder with or without intention to kill), sexual harassment, cruelty, murder threat, at the Magadi Road police station.
As per the initial investigation, even after Pooja got married, her family members pressured her to return, but she had said will not leave her husband and return. Pooja was in phone contact with a paternal aunt after marriage. The aunt, Pani Devi, recently came to know about Pooja’s residential address and gave supari to kidnap her and bring her back to Rajasthan.
After kidnapping Pooja, the accused struggled to get out of the locality, not knowing which way to go. When some locals tried to block the car and chased them, the kidnappers escaped by ramming the car into wherever was ahead. So far, damage has been caused to more than hundred vehicles, but only two auto drivers contacted the police and complained. Over 30 people are also injured, but only six contacted the police and availed treatment.
According to DCP (West Division) Yatish N, “Around 7.30 pm on Wednesday, the accused tried to kidnap the young woman who is originally from Rajasthan. She is living in Bengaluru with her husband, who is an electrician, after their marriage. Yesterday evening, suddenly a group came in car and forcibly dragged and took away the victim. Near Vijayanagar and Govindarajanagar, they hit many vehicles and six pedestrians also sustained injuries. Then, locals blocked the car and handed over the accused to the police. At present, we have taken three into custody and interrogating them. There is information that there was one more person and police are on the lookout for him. The injured are being given treatment, and the condition of one woman is said to be critical”.
House owner Mahadev said, “We did house warming just 15 days ago. Just a week days ago, they had brought an acquaintance and said three people will live in the house and, we gave house on rent. On Rakhi festival day a young woman had come and they told us that her sister has come to tie Rakhi. Three days ago, the sister went from house, but yesterday, suddenly this kind of incident happened. We were not there when she was kidnapped. If this happens it is scary even to give house on rent, especially since the agreement has also not been signed”.
