City’s best police station insists on vehicle missing complaint for robbery at knifepoint

Luckily for him, a member of the gang that relieved him of the valuables including his two-wheeler was caught soon afterwards – by the public, as they were trying to stage another robbery within hours

An officer at the police station refused to register a robbery case, and insisted that the victim, who was relieved of his two-wheeler, mobile and cash by a three-member gang at knifepoint, instead file a missing complaint, on Sunday. However, one of the gang members of the knife-wielding gang, who was caught by the public about four hours later during another robbery bid at Broadway, confessed that they robbed the youth at Anna Nagar earlier in the day. 

Hariharasudhan of Karayanchavadi near Poonamallee, a 21-year-old engineering college student, was waiting for his friend at the Shanthi Colony bus stop at around 8.30 pm when the three-member gang came there on a bike, with their face covered with handkerchiefs. 

Before he could realise what was happening, one of them sat in the pillion seat and threatened Hariharasudhan at knifepoint to ride the vehicle. The other two followed on their bike. When they reached near GV Block on First Avenue, the gang asked Hariharasudhan to stop. They then snatched his mobile phone and wallet, besides taking his two-wheeler. 

Hariharasudhan walked to Anna Nagar police station and narrated the incident to the officer posted as the writer in the crime wing. However, the writer insisted that he could not accept a complaint of robbery, instead asked the youth to file a complaint stating that his two-wheeler was missing, along with the cash and mobile phone. When the writer directed him to change the complaint, Hariharasudhan had no other option but to obey. 

The gang later surfaced on Portuguese Church Street near Broadway at around 1 am and attempted to rob Ali Akbar (60) and his sister who were returning home. However, this time, the victims raised an alarm, alerting the residents. Seeing the gathering public, two of the gang members escaped. However, Ganeshan alias Lingam, a history-sheeter from TP Chatram, could not get on to the two-wheeler and was left behind.  He was caught by the public and later handed over to the police. During questioning, Lingam confessed that they had robbed a college student in Anna Nagar of his two-wheeler, cash and mobile earlier in the night. 

Based on his confession, senior officers contacted Anna Nagar crime unit and instructed them to change Hariharasudhan’s complaint to a robbery case.