Bengaluru: Two men posing as prospective tenants allegedly assaulted a 59-year-old woman and fled with her 40-gram gold mangalya chain in east Bengaluru recently.

The incident occurred at Konadasapura, where the woman, identified as Yashoda, runs a small shop in front of Safal Market.

Men posed as prospective tenants

According to Yashoda’s complaint, an acquaintance named Bharath had approached her around two weeks before the incident, claiming that two of his friends were looking for a house on rent.

Bharath’s parents had earlier run a roadside eatery on Yashoda’s property before returning to their native Chintamani. He reportedly told her that he was studying at a nearby college.

Although no one visited the following morning as promised, a man later came to Yashoda’s shop, introduced himself as Bharath’s friend and enquired about the rent and advance.

Duo allegedly attacks woman

Around 8 pm on August 5, two men arrived at Yashoda’s house claiming to be Bharath’s friends. She took them to a vacant house adjacent to her residence.

The men allegedly claimed that there were cracks in the walls and said one of them was bringing his pregnant wife and wanted the damage repaired.

According to Yashoda, the duo took tools, including a hammer, from her house and began hitting the wall. When she objected and asked them to clean the house instead, they allegedly followed her into her residence while she was cooking.

One of the men allegedly placed his hand on her shoulder before both tried to snatch her mangalya chain. Yashoda said she resisted, but the duo allegedly assaulted her, overpowered her and escaped on a motorcycle with the chain.

Police suspect acquaintance masterminded crime

Yashoda told Avalahalli police that she remembered Bharath mentioning that his sister was married to a nearby villager.

A senior police officer said three people had been secured for questioning and that efforts were under way to recover the stolen gold.

Police suspect Bharath was the mastermind and said the accused had allegedly followed Yashoda for nearly two weeks before carrying out the robbery.