Bengaluru: In the quiet early hours of Thursday, a vigilant flower vendor turned hero when he foiled an attempted ATM heist in Malleswaram, ensuring nearly Rs 10 lakh in cash remained untouched.
Janardhan Rao A, 30, was prepping plantain leaves at 2am at his roadside stall when he noticed suspicious activity at an ATM kiosk across the road. A man was violently shaking the machine, damaging the screen and trying to force it open. “I realised he was trying to break into it,” said Rao, who shares a sentimental connection with the kiosk that’s stood near his shop since his teenage years.
Crossing the road, Rao confronted the man and grabbed his hand. The accused snapped back in Hindi, demanding Rao mind his business. In the scuffle, Rao was pushed down, but he didn’t give up. He grabbed two wooden logs from his flower stall and gave chase as the intruder fled towards Yeshwantpur.
Near Sai Baba temple, Rao hurled one log like a spear, tripping the suspect. He followed up with another precise strike to the knees and quickly dialed 112. Police patrol unit Hoysala arrived within minutes and arrested the man — Shakeel Ahmed alias Ibrahim, a native of Haryana.
Police confirmed that the cash inside the damaged ATM remained secure. Ahmed had arrived in the city just two days earlier and attempted to target the unmanned kiosk.
DCP (North) Saidulu Adavath said Rao will be felicitated for his bravery, a rare example of public courage in the face of danger.
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