Belagavi gold traders waylaid by gang near Pandavapura, rescued by villagers

MANDYA: Two businessmen engaged in gold trade who were being attacked by a gang of heavily armed robbers on the Jewargi-Pandavapura State Highway were rescued by villagers of Banaghatta in Pandavapura taluk in the early hours on Thursday. The villagers even managed to nab two of the robbers and handed them to the Pandavapura police.

The smashed windows of the car.

The two businessmen, Balaji and Siraj, were going to Mysuru from Belagavi in their car when more than 10 robbers in two cars waylaid them near Banaghatta village aroud 5.30 am. The gang smashed the windows of the businessmen’s car, hit them with rods and held a pistol to their heads.

Two of the robbers who were nabbed by villagers.

Some villagers who were at a roadside tea shop initially thought there was an accident and approached the vehicles when the businessmen waved their hands signalling to be rescued.

The tea shop where some villagers had gathered.

According to the villagers, the gang was armed with swords, machetes, iron rods and a gun. Three of the villagers then started throwing stones at the gang, forcing the robbers to flee. However, the robbers made away with a bag from the businessmen’s car.

The businessmen leaving from Pandavapura police station.

In the melee, the villagers managed to catch two of the robbers, thrashed them and tied them to a tree. The duo first they were from Tamil Nadu and later claimed they were from Kerala. The duo and the businessmen were later taken to the Pandavapura taluk hospital where they were treated for injuries.

The firearm which was recovered from the two robbers.

The two arrested robbers were identified as Nishad and Ranjith from Kerala. The Pandavapura police have registered a case and taken up further investigation.