Criminals throw chili powder, flee with Rs 2 lakh, 30 cellphones in Bihar

The victim was returning to the cellphone showroom after collecting the cash from retailers when he was robbed at Sasaram in Bihar’s Rohtas district.

Two motorcycle–borne unidentified criminals threw chili powder at a salesman and robbed him of Rs 2 lakh and 30 cellphones in Bihar’s Rohtas district, 134 km from state capital Patna.

Criminals snatched the cash and cellphones from the salesman at Sasaram after throwing chili powder in his eyes and fled. (Shutterstock/Representative image)

Police said the criminals accosted Pankaj Kumar, salesman in a showroom dealing in mobile phones, at Takia overbridge in Sasaram town, headquarters of Rohtas district, snatched the cash and cellphones after throwing chili powder in his eyes and fled.

Kumar was returning to the showroom after collecting the cash from retailers when the incident took place around 7.30pm on Friday, the police said.

The criminal fled on their two-wheeler towards Kochas town, 31 km north of Sasaram, the police added.

Sasaram subdivisional police officer (SDPO) Alok Ranjan said this was probably the first time that chili powder had been used to loot cash and other valuables at Sasaram. “As Kumar was almost blinded under the impact of chili powder and the people commuting on the overbridge at the time of the incident were unable to provide details about the criminals, we are using scientific methods to track them,” Ranjan said.