TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: A daring attempt in broad daylight to rob Rs 8 lakh from a petrol pump owner barely 50 metres from the Ponda police station was foiled by the pump owner’s presence of mind, stroke of luck and quick action.
The incident, which has shocked people in the town, has been reported barely two days after a mangalsutra, a mobile phone and cash, all worth Rs 1.34 lakh, was robbed from a woman at Kundaim-Ponda.
According to police reports, the attempted robbery took place at about 10.30 am when the petrol pump owner, Bala Sahakari of Curti-Ponda, was going to the SBI Bank in Ponda to deposit cash of Rs 8 lakh.
Sahakari parked his vehicle opposite the SBI Bank, which is about 50 metres from the Ponda police station, and was carrying a bag containing Rs 8 lakh to deposit in the bank, when he was suddenly confronted by a youth in his mid-twenties.
The youth flung chilly powder in the face and eyes of Sahakari and tried to grab his bag containing the cash.
As luck would have it, Sahakari was wearing spectacles and the chilly powder did not inflict serious injury to his eyes.
A scuffle took place as the accused tried to pull the bag from Sahakari, who had a firm grip on the bag. Sahakari then pulled out a pistol from his pocket and pointed it at the accused, who ran away.
