Four engineering students held hostage, robbed of Rs 1.5 lakh near Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Four engineering students were allegedly held captive and robbed of Rs 1.5 lakh while returning after having biryani at a popular food joint on the outskirts of the city, police said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on December 21 when the students were returning on two-wheelers from an early morning trip to an eatery in Hoskote, they said.
One of the accused has been arrested, and efforts are on to nab the remaining suspects, police said.
According to the police, the students are from a private college in Bagalur. While returning from the eatery, they were allegedly intercepted near a toll plaza by a gang of men, who thrashed them and took away their mobile phones and two-wheelers.
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The gang allegedly took the students to a shed near Medahalli, held them captive, and robbed them. The assailants allegedly took Rs 40,000 in cash and transferred Rs 1.10 lakh from the victims’ bank accounts, a senior police officer said.
However, the students later got their vehicles back, he said.
Based on a complaint lodged by one of the students, a case has been registered at Avalahalli police station under sections related to kidnapping and dacoity. Further investigation is underway, police said.
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Introduce Vande Bharat from Bengaluru to Goa via coastal Karnataka: Kumaraswamy urges Vaishnaw
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday urged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to consider introducing a Vande Bharat Express service between Bengaluru and Madgaon in Goa via coastal Karnataka.
He cited the long-pending public demand and improved operational readiness of the route.
In a letter to Vaishnaw, Kumaraswamy said the proposed high-speed service would significantly enhance rail connectivity between the state capital and the coastal belt of Karnataka and Goa, especially in the wake of the successful electrification of the ghat section.
He noted that the corridor linking Bengaluru with Hassan, Mangaluru Junction, Udupi and Karwar caters to a wide and diverse passenger base, including tourists, pilgrims, students and professionals.
"I would like to draw your kind attention to a long-standing and widely shared public aspiration for improved high-speed rail connectivity between Bengaluru and the coastal belt of Karnataka and Goa. With the successful completion of electrification across the ghat section, the route is now operationally well-positioned for the introduction of a Vande Bharat Express service," Kumaraswamy said in the letter.
The former Karnataka Chief Minister pointed out that a Vande Bharat Express on this route would strengthen the link between Bengaluru, described as the IT capital of India, and the major commercial, port and tourism centres of coastal Karnataka and Goa.
He said enhanced connectivity would not only reduce travel time, but also improve passenger comfort and reliability.
Kumaraswamy further requested the Railway Minister to direct the South Western Railway to examine the feasibility of the proposed service and initiate appropriate action.
He said the introduction of the train would help meet growing passenger demand, promote regional economic activity, boost tourism and enhance inter-state connectivity.
According to the letter, the proposal is aligned with the union government's vision of building an integrated, efficient and modern rail network across the country.
Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) second-in-command, said he would be grateful for favourable consideration of the request and for initiating the necessary administrative process at an early date.
