Farmer robbed of Rs 55 lakh near Salem

Salem: In a shocking development, a farmer was robbed of Rs 55 lakh by four masked men when he was returning home with the cash near Talaivasal in Salem district on Tuesday.

The miscreants suddenly appeared on the highway from a nearby bush, intercepted the two-wheeler which the farmer M. Chinnadurai, 38, of Navakuruchi village near Talaivasal was riding, sprinkled chili powder on his face before threatening him and snatching the cover containing the cash from him, police said. The robbers then sped off in the farmer’s two-wheeler from there.Chinnadurai is said to be returning from Chennai after collecting the Rs 55 lakh from a friend there for purchasing lands in his village, police said. He had while earlier going to  Chennai parked his two-wheeler at the Talaivasal tollgate and took another mode of transport from there to Chennai. A dazed Chinnadurai managed to reach Talaivasal police station and filed a complaint.  Investigation is on.