Three rob elderly man near bank

Hyderabad: An attention diversion gang robbed an elderly man of Rs 70,000 near the HDFC Bank branch at Old Alwal on Wednesday.

Police said the gang sprinkled a powdery substance on 68-year-old Parameshwar, which caused irritation and diverted his attention, a few metres away from the bank. They had also deflated the tyre of Mr Parameshwar’s two-wheeler.

Mr Parameshwar, a resident of Old Venkatapuram, had gone to the bank to withdraw cash. He had wrapped the money in a plastic bag and had kept it in the dickey of his scooter. The gang noticed this and attacked him.

Alwal police said three persons sprinkled a powder on Mr Parameshwar causing severe itchiness. While he was scratching, the crooks opened the dickey and fled with the cash bag.

“We recovered CCTV footage from the surveillance camera at the bank and are examining it. The victim doesn’t remember the features of the accused. We are checking with our database,” said Mr Girish Rao, detective inspector, Alwal.