A dramatic scene unfolded near the KSRTC bus stand in Nagamangala town on Saturday as local citizens caught and thrashed two youths who were attempting to swindle a Bengaluru resident using a "magical lucky coin." The duo, along with an associate who managed to flee, had allegedly promised the victim a rare copper coin with supernatural powers.
The "Lucky" Trap
The victim, a resident of Bengaluru, was reportedly contacted via social media by the accused. They convinced him that they possessed an ancient "Rama-Lakshmana" copper coin that could bring immense wealth and luck to its owner. After weeks of persuasion, a deal was struck for ₹1 lakh.
Lured by the promise of the magical artifact, the man traveled from Bengaluru to Nagamangala on Saturday to finalize the transaction and collect the coin.
Mob Justice at the Bus Stand
The exchange took place near the Nagamangala KSRTC bus stand. However, as soon as the victim handed over the cash and inspected the "artifact," he realized he had been handed an ordinary, worthless copper coin. When he confronted the youths, they attempted to flee the spot with the money.
The victim immediately raised an alarm, shouting for help. Passersby and commuters at the busy bus stand quickly surrounded the suspects.
- The Assault: Angry at the brazen fraud, the public caught two of the youths—identified as Yashwanth Rao and Sudhir from Shikaripura village in Nagamangala taluk—and thrashed them before the police arrived.
- The Escape: A third accomplice managed to dodge the crowd and escape the scene with a portion of the money.
Police Custody and Investigation
The Nagamangala Town Police arrived at the spot shortly after the commotion and took Yashwanth Rao and Sudhir into custody. During the initial interrogation, the duo confessed to targeting innocent people through social media by exploiting their superstitions.
"We have registered a case against the accused for cheating and criminal intimidation. We are currently tracking the third suspect who is at large," said a police official from the Nagamangala Town station.
The police have warned citizens not to fall for "magical" or "lucky" antique scams on social media, emphasizing that such "miracle coins" are almost always fraudulent.
