Bengaluru: An emergency alert claiming that four people were murdered near Kudlu Gate sent police rushing to the spot, only to find that the shocking information was a hoax call.
According to a complaint filed by assistant sub-inspector M Venkatesh, he was on night patrol duty in Hoysala along with driver, Deepu R, when they received an alert from the control room at around 9:33 pm on June 16. A man, identified as Umesh, reported that four murders had taken place near Kudlu Gate.
The patrol team rushed to the location and conducted a thorough search. However, no signs of any murder or criminal incident were found. When police contacted the caller on his mobile phone and sought details, the man failed to provide any specific information and allegedly spoke irresponsibly when questioned, a police officer said.
To verify the claim, officers from Bandepalya police station too visited the area and questioned residents and passers-by. Their inquiries revealed no evidence whatsoever of the murders. Police concluded that the information provided to the control room was false.
A case was registered under BNS section 217 (false information, with intent to cause a public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person). During the investigation, police found the caller is a resident of Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, who works as a labourer and is a habitual hoax caller. He visited his cousin, who stays near Kudlu Gate. Efforts are on to nab him, a senior officer said.
