Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur

Puttur, Apr 27: Residents of Uppinangady caught an unidentified man and handed him over to police after he allegedly entered houses in broad daylight on the pretext of asking for water and tried to latch doors, creating panic among residents.

The incident occurred near Bank Road here. An elderly woman was alone at home when the man came asking for water. While the woman went to the kitchen to bring water, he allegedly entered the house and latched the main door from inside. On noticing this, the frightened woman raised an alarm.

The man then fled from the spot and entered a room in another nearby house where a lone woman was staying, and allegedly tried to latch that door as well. When the woman and local residents shouted, he escaped from there.

He was later found hiding in a structure behind the house of a local businessman. Residents who had followed him informed the businessman and caught the man before handing him over to police.

Initially, the man reportedly used gestures as if he was mute while asking for water. However, while being handed over to police, he spoke in Malayalam and said that he was engaged in rubber tapping work.

Residents said they had responded on humanitarian grounds by offering water to a person affected by the scorching heat, but were shocked by his behaviour. The incident has created fear in the locality, and citizens have urged police to verify his background and take appropriate action.