Chennai: With as many 25 cases of robbery and waylaying last year and another two last night, the Chennai bypass connecting Irumbuliyur and Maduravoyil seems to be turning into a ‘Highway of Robbery’.
On Monday around midnight, a duo of thieves on a bike allegedly robbed at knifepoint a woman and her son who were on a two-wheeler on the Chennai bypass after blocking their way.
The victims, Balasubramaniam, 32, a businessman from Red Hills and his mother Devayani, 58, were returning home after visiting a temple in Chengalpet for Mahodaya amavasya, when the incident happened.
They were crossing the Thiruneermalai area, when two men on a motorbike crossed their vehicle, and suddenly stopped it, blocking Balasubramaniam’s way.
The pillion rider got down from the bike, pulled out a long sickle from the back of his shirt and injured Balasubramaniam in the ear. Later, the duo threatened the mother, saying they would kill her son if they refuse to part with valuables.
As soon as Devayani saw her son bleeding and in pain, she handed over her 10 sovereigns of gold ornaments. The robbers also snatched their mobile phones and vehicle key before speeding away from the scene.
A few other motorists, after witnessing the victims’ plight, stopped and informed the police, who later helped Balausbramaniam get admitted to a private hospital.
In another incident, a lorry driver who had stopped his vehicle to attend nature’s call was assaulted and robbed of Rs 6,000 and his cell phone 30 minutes prior to the above incident in Kannadapalayam stretch of the bypass.
Police sources disclosed that in 2015, there were at least 25 incidents of waylaying and robbery, including 6 violent crimes using weapons, on the Chennai bypass. Though the road was inaugurated in 2002, the entire stretch remains without any illumination in the night, which helps criminals commit crimes and escape.
National highway officials pointed out that they were ready to install streetlights in the stretch, but it was up to the local administration to maintain them. No local body is willing to spend on the electricity bill, the officer noted.
