Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Dec 20: In a dramatic incident resembling a scene from a movie, a team of fraudsters allegedly hijacked a lorry by misleading the driver with claims of a court warrant. The incident occurred on the outskirts of the city on Friday.
The victim is a driver employed with Navadurga Food Product company. On November 16, as per the instructions of the owner, the complainant had hired a lorry from a person named Shashikanth and loaded bread consignments from Padubidri. After unloading the goods at the KMF (Karnataka Milk Federation) unit in the city, the incident took place while the driver was returning.
Mangaluru Rural police station (file photo)
As the driver was proceeding on the road, a tourist car blocked the lorry midway. A youth who got down from the car threatened the driver, claiming that he had a court order and that the vehicle was being seized. When the driver contacted his logistics supervisor, Somanath, one of the accused, identified as Rakshit, allegedly snatched the phone and assured him, saying, “We are taking possession of Shashikanth’s lorry and will safely send your driver back,” thereby gaining his confidence.
Rakshit later took away the driver’s mobile phone and instructed him to drive the lorry towards Kaikamba. Three other persons followed them in the tourist car. Near Pilikula Road in Vamanjoor, the accused stopped the vehicle and disconnected the GPS system installed in the lorry. They then proceeded towards Kaikamba via Gurpur.
After reaching Kaikamba, the lorry was stopped in a deserted area, where empty bread trays loaded in the lorry were transferred to a Bolero pick-up vehicle that was already waiting there. The accused then forcibly snatched the lorry keys from the driver, made him board the Bolero vehicle and sent him back to the company.
A case has been registered at the Mangaluru Rural police station against Rakshit and his associates for stealing the lorry by falsely claiming to have a court order. Police have taken up the investigation. The incident has left the public shocked.