Uppinangady: A six-member gang of highway robbers were caught and thrashed by the public near Nelyady and later handed over to police on Saturday.

The arrested have been identified as Pradeep, Goutham, Nagesh, Shivaram, Dinesh and Sanju Kumar from Bengaluru.

Kareem, owner of a bakery in Uppinangady, was waylaid by a Toyota car near Panjala, when he was returning home after work in his bike. Though Kareem tried to escape from the spot leaving the bike, four members of the gang caught him and beat him black and blue. However, Kareem managed to escape and went to a nearby house of one Ilias and came back along with a few youth to the spot where he was assaulted. However, the gang had escaped with Rs 20,000 cash and helmet, leaving his bike.

Immediately Kareem informed his friends in Nelyady. His friends, who were keeping an eye on vehicles near Kolpe, spotted the White Toyota. The gang members who saw the youth, tried to escape. However, the youth managed to nab three of the gang members and handed over to the police after thrashing them black and blue.

The Toyota car used for the purpose has been seized. The police also found lethal weapons and liquor bottles in the vehicle.

The other three members of the gang, who had escaped, were finally nabbed on Sunday morning by the Uppinangady police led by SI Timmappa Naik. All the arrested were earlier involved in highway robberies and several cases are already registered against them.