BELAGAVI
Scarcity of vegetables have made it a prized commodity, so much so that dacoits are now targetting vegetable vehicles along the Belagavi-Goa road.
In one such incident, dacoits looted a vehicle carrying vegetables and other commodities going to Goa late Thursday night.
Belagavi police are on a lookout for dacoits while security has been beefed up along Belagavi-Goa road in and around Jamboti, as the incident has instilled fear among vegetable and other commodities transporters to Goa.
According to police and eyewitnesses, the incident took place as five vehicles, including tempos carrying vegetables and other commodities, were heading to Goa on Thursday midnight.
As the vehicles slowed down while negotiating an uphill turn near Kinaye village, a vehicle driver behind these vehicles saw a few persons clinging on to the rear of a vegetable tempo and ripping open the tarpaulin of the tempo from rear side.
The dacoits managed to throw a few sacks of potatoes, onions and a new bicycle that was being transported to Goa.
After they were alerted of the incident, the driver and porters in the vehicle stopped the vehicle and tried to chase the dacoits. However, a cleaner received minor injuries as one of the dacoits hit him with a sharp weapon.
“We stopped the tempo and tried to shout and chase away the dacoits who had blackened their faces. There were over 7-8 of them armed with sickles, pickaxes and iron rods,” the cleaner of a tempo told The Goan. “We tried to pelt stones at them and shouted for help from other vehicles. However, the dacoits managed to flee in the dark with sacks of onion, potatoes and a new bicycle that was being transported to Goa,” he added.
After being alerted of the incident, a Belagavi police team reached the spot. Police is on the lookout for the dacoits, while police have increased patrolling on the Belagavi-Goa road near Jamboti.
Similar incidents were reported in December last year, when an attempt by dacoits to loot a goods vehicle was foiled by police.
