Customers take away household articles from shop as owner flees after promising discounted sales

RAICHUR: A group of people barged into a shop and walked away with whatever they could lay their hands on after they came to know that the store owner had duped them and fled, at Hatti in Lingasugur on Tuesday night.

People took away items like matresses and cots from the store.

The store owner Raja, hailing from Tamil Nadu, had set up Oxygen Order Suppliers in the town and had promised people household appliances and gadgets at half the prices within a month if they invested the amount with him. Initially, he gave out some articles at half price and people started believing him and invested anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh with Raja.

A large crowd had gathered outside the shop on Tuesday night.

Suddenly, he locked up the store and fled. When the investors realised this, they barged into the store and took away whatever was available. They also vented their anger at the town panchayat officals who gave permission for opening the store and the police. The Hatti police have registered a case against Raja and are on the lookout for him.