Fire breaks out at Ruskin Complex in Vitla, two shops gutted
Vitla, April 20: A fire broke out late Saturday night at the Ruskin Complex located on Palace Road in Vitla, gutting two shops and causing considerable property damage.
Members of the local group ‘Friends Vitla’ were among the first to notice the flames and rushed to the scene in a pickup vehicle. They began efforts to control the fire using available resources before the arrival of the fire department.
Firefighters from the Puttur fire station soon reached the spot with fire tenders and managed to extinguish the flames before they could spread further to adjacent establishments.
Though no injuries have been reported, two commercial units within the complex suffered significant damage. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and authorities have launched an investigation.
The timely intervention by the local volunteers and fire personnel is believed to have prevented a much larger disaster in the commercial area.
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
