Karnataka - Bijapur   

Three injured as dacoits strike at two houses

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIJAPUR, SEPT. 14. Dacoits struck at two houses in Hungund town and injured three persons, including a Bagalkot Zilla Panchayat member, Basavaraj Gaddi, before making away with valuables worth Rs. 1.6 lakhs in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to the Bagalkot police, taking advantage of a power blackout in the town (Hungund), a gang of 15 members broke open Mr. Gaddi's house in Basavanagar on Bagalkot Road at 1 a.m., and threatened the family members.

Mr. Gaddi's younger brother, Sanganabasava, was assaulted with an iron rod by the dacoits. The dacoits then locked up some family members, including women and children, in a room.

Hearing people screaming, Mr. Gaddi came down from the first floor and even before he realised what had happened, the dacoits hit him with an iron rod.

Apart from taking away Rs. 50,000 in cash, the dacoits forcibly removed the gold ornaments worn by the family members. They left the scene with the booty even as an injured Mr. Gaddi and his brothers were lying in pool of blood.

Mr. Gaddi's neighbour, Basavaraj Mallappa Yadahalli, who came out of his house, was also assaulted by the dacoits. The dacoits went to his house and made away with a golden chain and some cash. While he was admitted to the local hospital, Mr. Gaddi and his brothers were taken to a hospital in Bagalkot. The police arrived at the scene later. The dog squad was pressed into service. Combing operations could not be taken up because of the power shutdown.

Only a few policemen were in the town as most of the personnel had been deployed in Ilkal town for the Vijayamahantha Math Jatra. The Superintendent of Police (Bagalkot), B.A. Padmanayana, visited the spot. The dacoits, most of whom were aged 20, spoke in Hindi, according to the complainant, Gouramma Basavaraj Gaddi.

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