JAIPUR: The soaring price of onion has not only affected the common man, it has also compelled the robbers to change their priorities. In an unusual case of robbery, three armed men stopped a truck carrying onion and decamped with the vehicle at Shahpura village on Jaipur-Delhi highway.

The retail price of onion is anywhere between Rs 65 and Rs 75 per kg at various markets in Jaipur.

The incident took place on Sunday at 10pm when the truck driver Mintu and his cleaner Rinku were on their way to Meerut after loading 40 tonnes of onion from a Mandi in Sikar.

"The two said that three unidentified men in a Tata 907 vehicle blocked their way at Shahpura village and entered into a heated argument with them accusing them of hitting their vehicle. They asked them (Mintu and Rinku) to came out of the vehicle to settle their loss," said an officer of Shahpura police station.

When the driver and cleaner came out of the vehicle, all the three robbers pushed them away and boarded the truck carrying onion, police added.

Soon after, the driver and cleaner approached a nearby police Chowki and narrated the incident.

"We got a wireless message at 10.30. We intimated Kotputli and Bairath (both on Jaipur-Delhi highway) police stations to put barricades on the way. After a search of almost two hours, we spotted the truck near an isolated place, 3 km from Kotputli, away from the highway," said Ratan Lal, station house officer, Shahpura.

The police believe that all the three robbers took advantage of rain and darkness and managed to flee from the spot.

"It was dark and raining. Our men also chased them when they started running. Later they disappeared," he added.

The police have registered a case of robbery against three unidentified persons after the FIR lodged by the duo. The truck left Sikar at 6.30 pm on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the onion laden truck was released from the court on Monday evening and the driver and cleaner resumed their journey to Meerut.

