A 40-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly holding a 23-year-old woman at knifepoint and attempting to rob her of a gold mangalsutra worth approximately Rs 4.5 lakh at a shop in Bengaluru's Indiranagar area. The incident took place in broad daylight on October 31 at a shoe and bag repair shop on 100 Feet Road. The accused, identified as Prabhuraj, was apprehended with the assistance of members of the public and subsequently taken into police custody.

According to the police, the woman worked as a receptionist at the shop and was responsible for handling its daily transactions. She was alone at the establishment when the accused entered the premises at around 11.45 am, wearing a helmet and gloves. He allegedly jumped over the reception counter and told her that someone was coming to kill him, warning her not to raise an alarm. When she attempted to contact the shop owner, the man allegedly forced her to sit down and threatened her with a knife.

The accused allegedly covered the woman's mouth, attacked her neck and hands with the knife and threatened to kill her if she screamed. He reportedly applied Fevikwik adhesive to both her hands, sticking them together to prevent her from resisting, and stuffed a piece of cloth into her mouth. He then allegedly snatched her gold mangalsutra, weighing approximately 35 grams and valued at Rs 4.5 lakh, before attempting to escape from the shop.

Also Read: Two Pakistani Policemen Guarding Polio Vaccinators Shot Dead In Suspected Militant Attack

However, the woman managed to free her hands and raised an alarm, attracting the attention of people nearby. As members of the public gathered outside the establishment, the accused allegedly grabbed her by the hair, dragged her back inside and held a knife against her neck. He threatened those present and warned them against intervening. When the shop owner and others attempted to overpower him, the accused allegedly brandished the weapon, attacked the owner and tried to flee with the stolen jewellery.

The incident was captured in a video that has since circulated widely on social media, showing the accused threatening the woman in the presence of members of the public. Police, with assistance from local residents, managed to trace and apprehend him following the incident. The woman was reported to be safe, while police said they were verifying the accused's background after preliminary information suggested that he could be experiencing mental health difficulties.

A case has been registered at Indiranagar police station under Section 309(6) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with voluntarily causing hurt while committing or attempting to commit robbery. The accused was questioned by the police and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the attempted robbery.

Also Read: Neha Bora's Video Fuels BJP's Political Attack On Congress Over Temple And Priest Issues