Residents of around 150 apartments in fast-growing Begur are going to lose their sole, friendly, neighbourhood supermarket, thanks to rising lawlessness in the area.
Attacked and robbed by an armed gang for the second time on Monday night, the supermarket owner has decided to wind up his business and return to his hometown in Kerala, leaving the residents of the locality in the lurch.
“The same gang had looted my shop a few months ago. But, this time, the gang went one step ahead and attacked the staff with a machete, ignoring their pleas to spare them and take whatever they want. The gangsters, who were conversing in Kannada, hit us to show their might," Noushad, the proprietor, said A profusely bleeding Waheed, manager of the supermarket, and his assistant, Elumalai, were rushed to a private hospital by a neighbour who was making a purchase.After the neighbour informed the police, a team from Hulimavu rushed to the spot and recovered the CCTV footage. “We have identified the attackers and efforts are on to nab them," a senior police officer said.
Residents depend on the supermarket not only for groceries, but also drinking water cans. The area is notorious for mugging and anti-social activities, including eve-teasing, especially at night.
The residents vented their ire on the government. “The government can neither ensure law and order nor provide us drinking water. Despite several cases of mugging, we do not see police patrolling the area," said a member of Raja Sannidhi Residents Association.
