15.9.09

Every doggie has its day


Johny, a stray from Railway Parallel Road in Bangalore brought down a chain-snatcher and helped him attain star status. Johny’s heroic entry into the ‘chainsnatching prevention team’ on Monday was duly recorded by flashing cameras and visiting media. The chain-snatcher Johny helped to nab was not your routine, hard-on-luck small-time thief, but 23-year-old Azaruddin Khilji, son of a college lecturer in Rajasthan who had hit upon petty theft to augment his pocket money. On Friday evening, Johny chased Azaruddin when he tried to escape after snatching a chain from Chikkamma, who was returning home after purchasing pooja material near Railway Parallel Road. When Chikkamma raised an alarm, Vijay, who lives nearby, tried to nab the thief. Within seconds, Johny, who’s been sheltering in Vijay’s cow shed for the past two years, was in hot pursuit. He caught Azaruddin by his pants. Though Azaruddin tried hard to shake him off, he couldn’t and was finally nabbed by Vijay and his friend. During interrogation, it came to light that Azaruddin had snatched two chains in Vyalikaval. The police have also recovered a laptop and two mobile phones. Azaruddin had a country-made air pistol that was enough to scare people, if not hurt anyone. Azaruddin, who hails from Nagore in Rajasthan, had completed his BCA from Anantapur district. He came to Bangalore and joined a network engineering course. He started snatching chains to fund his lavish lifestyle. Johny, the dog who helped nab a chainsnatcher, Azaruddin, last week, strayed into Vijay’s house two years ago looking for food and shelter. He quickly converted Vijay’s cow shed into his home and grew to be the friendly neighbourhood dog. Johny’s abode is adjacent to a narrow opening in the railway track at Malleswaram. The opening is as popular with people as it is with chain/mobile and money snatchers. Hence, the police were forced to put up a notice asking people not to cross the track from that corner. Vijay’s mother Rajani says she tied Johny during the day as he was getting aggressive. “During night, we let him free and he is very friendly even with kids,’’ she said. Last Friday around 8 pm, Rajani heard a woman cry for help. She saw a young man running with a chain. Hearing the commotion, Vijay ran out. “Within minutes, Johny chased the youth, caught him by his pants and wouldn’t let go. By that time, Vijay’s friend too came and the two grounded him.’’ On Monday, as the news spread, Johny had many visitors; from the media as well as the neighbourhood. Unfazed, he stayed calm and composed, blissfully unaware of his new found celebrity status.

No comments: