Police have arrested five youths who allegedly attacked and robbed three college students in Nagadenahalli under the Doddaballapura Rural police limits on Wednesday night.
The accused have been identified as Anand, Gagan alias Gowtham, Thilak, Prakash and Mune Gowda, all residents of Nagadenahalli.
Robbery planned to fund birthday celebration
According to police, the crime was planned after Anand, whose birthday fell on Wednesday, reportedly had no money to celebrate. He and his friends allegedly decided to rob passers-by to arrange funds for the celebration.
The gang first targeted Abhiram, 18, a student from Telangana who had arrived in Nagadenahalli to meet a friend studying in a private college in the area.
While Abhiram was heading to a hotel for dinner, the accused allegedly surrounded him and threatened him before robbing him of ₹9,000 in cash. They also snatched his mobile phone and transferred money from his account to the UPI accounts of Thilak and Mune Gowda.
Second robbery after bar visit
Later the same night, after reportedly partying at a bar, the accused allegedly attacked two more students — Abhinav, 21, from Kolar, and his friend Vivek — who had come to Nagadenahalli for dinner around 1.50 am.
The gang allegedly robbed them of ₹18,400 before fleeing the spot.
Based on the complaints filed by the victims, the police launched an investigation and traced the suspects through the UPI transactions made using the stolen phone.
Police register dacoity cases
All five accused were subsequently arrested. Police confirmed that the suspects are residents of Nagadenahalli.
Two separate cases of dacoity have been registered under Section 310(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police said further investigation is underway.