Techie set on fire in robbery attempt

Updated on: 12 July,2011 06:17 AM IST |
A Correspondent |

Armed trio stops software engineer returning from work on a isolated road and unable to steal valuables, they set him ablaze

Armed trio stops software engineer returning from work on a isolated road and unable to steal valuables, they set him ablaze

Representation pic

U Suraj, a team leader with IBM, was returning home at about 2.30 am in the Hennur police station limits when three men at a makeshift check naka stopped him. Since it was dark, Suraj thought that they were part of a police patrol and stopped his motorcycle.

Fiery nightmare
The armed trio armed with knives surrounded him and began tugging at his laptop bag and demanding that he part with his valuables, but Suraj refused to oblige. Hoping to scare the engineer into submission, one of the attackers pulled out a bottle of flammable liquid, splashed some on Suraj and tossed a lit matchstick on him setting his clothes alight. Hearing his anguished shouts, a few passersby came to his rescue and doused the flames. The bandits however, escaped under the cover of darkness. Suraj was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was stated to be out of danger.

Narrow escape
"They were armed with knives and demanded my wallet, mobile phone and laptop. When I resisted and tried to get away, one of them pulled out a plastic bottle from his back pocket and threw some liquid on me and lit a match. Before I could escape, my shirt was on fire," Suraj said.

The Hennur police have recorded the victim's statement and manhunt has been launched for the trio. It may be recalled that the Hennur and Banasawadi police have set up special police outposts in sensitive areas to keep a tab on the increasing robberies.

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