The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Encounter specialist’ creates panic before being nabbed

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Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Encounter specialist’ creates panic before being nabbed

M.T. Shiva Kumar

The 35-year-old man carried a toy pistol and extorted money from the public

Bangalore: Tuesday was a busy day for three police stations here with an “encounter specialist” spreading panic among the public in Byappanahalli, K.R. Puram and Banaswadi.

Tipped off by a alarmed public about an armed man on the loose who claimed to be an encounter specialist and , the police conducted combing operations within their jurisdiction, with the Ulsoor Sub-Division police finally nabbing 35-year-old A. Diwakar, alias Ashirwadam Diwakar, at Sadanandanagar near Byappanahalli. He was wearing a police uniform and was carrying a fake identity card, G.B. Manjunath, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ulsoor Sub-Division) told The Hindu.

The accused, a resident of 16th Cross of Lazar Layout, who used to run Victoria Security Agency in Fraser Town, went around Sadanandanagar, Byappanahalli, K.R. Puram, Banasawadi and other places saying that he was an encounter specialist appointed by the State Government to prevent crimes, including kidnapping and chain snatching.

“The accused had a toy pistol and displayed the ‘weapon’ at several places. He also collected money from the public. A few alert citizens informed us,” Mr. Manjunath said.

According to another officer, the police scrambled into action, looking for him high and low. By the time they tracked him down, he had thrown away the toy pistol.

Diwakar’s firm was not doing well because of recession, the officer said.

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