Bengaluru horror: Man glues woman’s hands, holds her at knifepoint to steal Rs 4.5 lakh mangalsutra
New Delhi: Bengaluru police on Tuesday arrested a man identified as Prabhuraj for allegedly holding a 23-year-old receptionist at knifepoint in broad daylight and attempting to rob her gold mangalsutra worth nearly Rs 4.5 lakh. The terrifying incident took place at a shoe and bag repair shop on 100 Feet Road in Indiranagar.
The victim was reported safe and unhurt. According to investigators, the accused appears to be dealing with severe depression and mental distress, and officers are currently checking his personal background. A video capturing the suspect holding the woman hostage in front of shocked onlookers has since surfaced across social media platforms.
The incident occurred around 11:45 am on October 31, while the woman was handling daily accounts alone at the counter. The complainant stated that a man wearing a helmet and gloves walked in, leapt over the reception desk, and claimed someone was chasing him to take his life before ordering her to stay quiet.
Terrifying ordeal inside the shop
When the woman tried phoning the shop owner for help, the intruder overpowered her, covered her mouth, and threatened her with a knife to her neck and hands. The FIR notes that he applied instant adhesive (Fevikwik) to stick her hands together and shoved a cloth into her mouth to keep her quiet.
He then snatched her 35-gram gold mangalsutra, valued at around Rs 4.5 lakh, and shoved it into his pocket. As he turned to leave, the victim managed to pull her hands free and scream for help, drawing the attention of people on the street.
Public intervention and arrest
Realising a crowd had gathered, the accused grabbed the woman by her hair, dragged her back inside, and held the knife against her throat to keep the public from stepping in. When the shop owner and locals tried to corner him, he brandished the weapon, attacked the owner, and tried to make a run for it.
Bystanders and police officers quickly moved in, overpowered the man, and took him into custody. A senior police officer said Prabhuraj was questioned and later remanded to judicial custody. Indiranagar police have registered a case under Section 309 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is underway.