Bengaluru: Rider beaten up by a dozen of food app personnel

Bengaluru: Lockdown restrictions and empty roads have not done much to douse the tempers of this bunch of self-proclaimed Covid warriors. A group of food delivery personnel are said to have attacked and snatched the gold chain of a 32-year-old businessman on the pretext of a run in that never happened.

Sandeep Erappa said he had gone to buy medicines for his ailing mother and was going back home after filling petrol in his bike, when a dozen of what seems to be personnel of a food delivery platform, cornered and attacked him on SM Road at Jalahalli Cross in T Dasarahalli on the night of June 1. He claims that his bike did not even touch or brush theirs.

At around 10:30 pm Erappa had reached SM Road, when a biker halted abruptly in front of him, causing him to nearly brush his bike with the rider. Erappa stopped and asked the bike rider to ride carefully to avoid accidents. The rider took an offence and began arguing with Erappa. By then, Erappa realised he had overreacted and apologized and asked the rider to carry on.

Erappa rode off to turn to the crossroad to his house when he was surrounded by around 10 to 12 men. Erappa told that all the men were food delivery executives of the same company. He said, “All except two of them were wearing the t-shirts of the company do I could identify they were from the same company.”

One of them asked Erappa, why he had beat up their colleague. Erappa told them he had not even got off his bike and only asked the rider to ride carefully, but his words fell into deaf ears. The men allegedly surrounded him and began beating him black and blue. They told Erappa that they were Covid warriors working day and night during lockdown serving people staying at home with food and medicines. Erappa said, “In the melee, they had even snatched my gold chain which I held on to, but a major chunk of my chain went missing during the brawl. Around 30 per cent of the chain remained in my hand, while the other part was gone.”

As it was near Erappa’s house, a local named Durga from a shop nearby came to his aid and the men dispersed. The men warned Erappa and sped from the spot. After informing his mother, Erappa headed to the Bagalagunte police station and filed a complaint against the 10 to 12 unknown delivery personnel who attacked him and robbed him of his chain.

Erappa further added, “Food delivery personnel who have the privilege and permission to travel during the lockdown are taking advantage of their position and are indulging in criminal activities.”