Bengaluru, do not trust roadside quacks...here's why

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Claiming to be Vaid, Guruji, and Babaji, roadside quacks operating from tents with large banners and loudspeakers declaring that they can cure all diseases were a common sight in the city before the Bengaluru Police began clearing these illegal encroachments.

However, it appears that these self-styled doctors have found a new way to exploit people, particularly senior citizens.

Recently, a resident of Vijayanagar, Prabhakar HK, aged 65, was returning from his morning walk when he was approached by an individual who introduced himself as Manoj.

"He inquired about my knee-joint pain and claimed to have a remedy for it. He asked me to buy some items and mentioned that he would visit my house to help me prepare an Ayurvedic concoction," he recounted to News Trail.

Prabhakar initially considered the treatment but became suspicious due to a condition imposed by the person.

"He asked me not to consult any doctor," he said. Chenna Nagaraj, a resident of Kumara Park, had similar encounters with such individuals on two separate occasions.

"After crossing a road at Vyalikaval, a person struck up a conversation and inquired why I was limping. I brushed it off and continued walking," he said.

A few weeks later, another person approached him near Kumara Park and offered to alleviate his joint pain without any charges.

"The person exchanged contact numbers and requested me to purchase coconut oil and rose petals, claiming he would demonstrate how to make a mixture and apply it to the joints," Nagaraj explained.

Since the person didn't charge anything, Nagaraj didn't suspect anything until the individual asked him to buy Swarna, Vajra, and other Bhasmas along with rose petals and Tulasi. The cost of these items would have easily exceeded Rs 30,000, he estimated.

"I was about to agree when a phone call from my relative changed everything. That day, the person had come to my home," Nagaraj said.

During the call with his doctor-relative, an excited Nagaraj mentioned the traditional treatment he was considering. The relative warned him against such unauthorized practices.

As soon as the call ended, the person in Nagaraj's house inquired about the conversation. Upon learning that the caller was a doctor, the man abruptly left, saying he couldn't teach Nagaraj the process.

That was the last Nagaraj saw of him. Previously, Chickpet police had arrested several individuals who had deceived unsuspecting people into purchasing 'Ayurvedic medicine' for lakhs of rupees.