Bantwal: Elderly doctor assaulted, gold chain snatched; two-wheeler also stolen

Bantwal: Elderly doctor assaulted, gold chain snatched; two-wheeler also stolen

Mangalore Today News Network

Bantwal, Jul 27, 2026: A late-night theft spree in Idkidu village of Bantwal taluk has left residents alarmed after unidentified miscreants allegedly assaulted a 79-year-old retired doctor, snatched his gold chain, and stole a two-wheeler from a nearby house.

The victim, K. Suryanarayana (79), a retired doctor residing at Kolpe in Idkidu village, was asleep when the intruders allegedly entered his house during the night.

According to police, Suryanarayana woke up after hearing a noise and found two men inside the house. When he confronted them, the accused allegedly punched him in the stomach. As he bent over in pain, they snatched his 20-gram gold chain, valued at around ₹2.6 lakh, and fled through the back door.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the thieves gained entry through an opening in the wall that had been left uncovered due to ongoing repair work at the house. The victim’s son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, who were asleep on the upper floor, remained unaware of the incident.

Police said the accused also targeted another nearby house, where they reportedly attempted to steal a two-wheeler but failed to unlock it and left the spot.

Later on Sunday morning, another resident, Anand Safalya of Kodancharapalu in Idkidu, discovered that his two-wheeler, valued at approximately ₹30,000, had been stolen from the courtyard of his house.

A dog squad and fingerprint experts were pressed into service to examine both crime scenes. The sniffer dog tracked the scent from the doctor’s residence through a plantation to the roadside and further towards the location where the stolen two-wheeler had been parked.

Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Bhumareddy, Bantwal Deputy Superintendent of Police Yash Kumar Sharma, Vittal Police Inspector Prakash Devadiga, and Sub-Inspector Ramakrishna visited the scenes and supervised the investigation.

Police suspect that both incidents were carried out by the same group of offenders. Separate cases have been registered at Vittal Police Station, and further investigation is underway.