A gang of seven armed men robbed a gold trader’s family on NH-66 near Mangaluru after intercepting their car. The accused assaulted the trader, kidnapped his wife and son, and escaped with 180 grams of gold jewellery and the vehicle. Police have launched a probe.
A daring, movie-like robbery unfolded on National Highway 66 near Baikampady on the outskirts of Mangaluru in the early hours of Monday, when a gang of seven armed and masked men targeted the family of a gold trader travelling from Maharashtra to Kerala. The assailants intercepted the family’s car, assaulted the trader, kidnapped his wife and teenage son in their own vehicle, and fled with 180 grams of gold jewellery and the car. Police have launched a major investigation and suspect the crime may have been planned with insider information.
Family Was Returning to Kerala After Attending a Wedding
The victim, Vikas Subbarao Dhanwade (44), is a gold trader originally from Sangli, Maharashtra. He has been living in Payyanur, in Kerala’s Kannur district, for the past 12 years, where he runs a gold jewellery manufacturing unit and a retail jewellery shop.
Vikas was travelling back to Kerala with his wife, Rupali (38), and their son, Vipul (14), in their Swift car after attending a relative’s wedding in Sangli. The incident occurred at around 2.15 am on Monday when the family reached the junction near Dwara Hotel in Baikampady, under the jurisdiction of the Panambur Police Station.
Armed Gang Kidnaps Wife and Son
According to the police, the robbers had been following Vikas’s vehicle in three Toyota Innova cars, two bearing Kerala registration numbers and one carrying a Bengaluru registration number.
At the junction, the gang blocked the family’s Swift car. Around seven masked men, armed with weapons, got out of the vehicles, attacked Vikas, dragged him out of the car and left him on the roadside.
The gang then kidnapped Rupali and their 14-year-old son in the family’s Swift car before driving towards Panambur Beach Road.
Robbers Escape With Gold Jewellery and Car
While driving, the accused snatched Rupali’s handbag, which contained 180 grams of gold jewellery and mobile phones. However, they reportedly took only the gold jewellery, leaving behind the mobile phones, clothes and other belongings in the car. They also did not remove the jewellery Rupali was wearing.
After the robbery, the gang abandoned Rupali and Vipul in a deserted area along Panambur Beach Road before fleeing with the family’s Swift car.
CCTV Footage Provides Key Clues
The robbery was carried out at a busy junction on National Highway 66 and was captured on nearby CCTV cameras.
After receiving information about the incident, personnel from the Panambur Police Station rushed to the spot. They rescued Vikas from the highway and later located Rupali and Vipul on Panambur Beach Road before providing them with first aid.
Panambur Police Inspector Salim Abbas later visited the scene, conducted a spot inspection and recorded the victims’ statements as part of the investigation.
Police Suspect Insider Involvement
Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy confirmed that multiple special investigation teams have been formed to trace and arrest the accused.
He said, “A car travelling from Sangli, Maharashtra, to Payyanur, Kerala, was intercepted, and 180 grams of gold jewellery and the vehicle were stolen. We have formed several special investigation teams. We have obtained important clues from the CCTV footage and expect to arrest the accused soon.”
Police suspect the robbery may have been an inside job. Investigators believe that information about Vikas Dhanwade’s return journey from a wedding while carrying gold was likely known only to people close to him. As a result, the investigation is also focusing on his business associates, close friends and others within his circle who may have had prior knowledge of his travel plans.