Bengaluru: The Sudduguntepalya police on Thursday arrested a 30-year-old man for trespassing into a women’s paying guest (PG) accommodation, inappropriately touching a tenant, and robbing her, officials said.
Incident details
The accused, Naresh Pattem from Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh, works as a bike-taxi driver. Police investigations revealed that Pattem had arrived in Bengaluru after being released on bail in two robbery cases in 2021.
On August 29, between 3 am and 4 am, Pattem entered the Laxmana Durga Ladies PG in BTM Layout 1st Stage when he found the door open while the security guard was asleep. He entered the room of a 21-year-old tenant, who initially mistook him for her roommate returning from a night shift. The victim was startled when he touched her inappropriately while covering his face with a handkerchief.
Following a brief scuffle, during which the suspect threatened her with a knife, he stole ₹2,500 from her room. Pattem had also locked the doors of another room before targeting the victim.
Police investigation and arrest
The Sudduguntepalya police analysed hundreds of CCTV camera footages to trace the suspect. A CCTV clip accessed by Deccan Herald shows the man inside the victim’s room for nearly two minutes before being chased out, fleeing through the same staircase he had used to enter the PG.
Pattem has been taken into custody and is being questioned further regarding the incident. Police are verifying if he is involved in any other similar cases in the city.