Gang flees with Rs 5 lakh after throwing chilli powder on two

CHENNAI: A four-member gang snatched Rs five lakh from two employees of a steel firm who were on their way to a nationalised bank in Thiruvottiyur to deposit the money, and escaped after audaciously throwing chilli powder on their faces, in full public view, on Saturday morning.
Mani (40) and Saravanan (35), employed in a private steel firm in Thiruvottiyur, had been to the house of the firm's owner, Karthik, in Tondiarpet.They were returning on a motorcycle to Thiruvottiyur with the money, which Karthik had asked them to deposit in the bank. As they neared the bank, four men on two bikes dashed their vehicles against the one being driven by Mani. In the impact, Mani and Saravanan, who was riding pillion, were thrown on to the road.
Saravanan held the bag containing cash. At knifepoint, he was ordered to part with the bag. When Mani refused, one of the men inflicted a cut injury on his hand while another snatched the bag from Saravanan. Before fleeing, they threw chilli powder on the faces of Mani and Saravanan. The drama unfolded at 10.45am even as people watched in disbelief. By the time passersby could react, the four men had sped away.
Mani and Saravanan were rushed to a private hospital in Thiruvottiyur. Police have registered a case and launched a search for the four men.
Washermanpet deputy commissioner of police, N K Senthamaraikannan, has ordered for vehicle checks to be conducted in the areas bordering Thiruvottiyur. "We are trying to draw portraits of the accused with details provided by the victims. Special teams have been formed to track down the culprits," a police officer said.