Madikeri: A gang of five persons arrived at the Coorg Dream homestay located at Chennangolli in Attur village near Gonikoppal in the southern part of the district and, under the guise of guests, executed a daring robbery on early Sunday night.
The couple narrating the details to the police
The homestay facility is run by planter-couple Kanjitanda Ponnappa and Renu. The gang entered the premises around 7-15 pm and asked if any accommodation was available. Before Ponnappa could respond, the culprits splashed spice powder on his face, assaulted him and bound him with a rope.
Then they got into the kitchen, dragged Renu out, assaulted and tied her up as well. They demanded the details of location of cash and valuables. They grabbed all of it and decamped with Rs 50,000 in cash and gold ornaments worth in lakhs, the exact value of which was not immediately known.
Harsha, a guest staying with his family in an adjacent suite, when he came to know about the incident soon thereafter, called the police. The couple has identified at least two of the intruders as those who had come to stay there a few days earlier.
They had also defaulted on part payment of the bill. On that occasion, on the pretext of taking a walk, they had gone around the whole place and had apparently studied its entire geography, the couple said recollecting the earlier visit.
The same two or three persons are suspected to have brought others for the purpose of robbing. One among the five is thought to have been their driver.
Kodagu superintendent of police Vartika Katiyar, DySP Kumar Chandra, circle inspector P K Raju, ASIs Shivalingaiah and Mahesh arrived at the spot and conducted investigations.
Shock and concern
Homestays in Kodagu are very popular and tourists from all over the country and abroad keep coming all through the year. They have so far been regarded as safe domains, far from the hustle-bustle of city life.
This incident has not only sent shock-waves around but raised the question of safety perceptions. A dire need to install CCTV systems at strategic points and stepping up of security are the points being discussed at present.
One of the owners said that he was thinking of installing a quick-response locking system in case of emergencies so that culprits would not be able to escape.
Another point in question is that Kodavas, as a special privilege, have been allowed to hold firearms without a license from the British times, which has been continued after Independence. Robberies at home are normally rare in incidence because the very thought of a gun being held inside keeps any prospective evil-doer at bay.
The incident in question may have taken place in a split second, not giving the owners any chance to defend themselves, said the police.
(pic and additional inputs courtesy: B G Ananth)