Bengaluru police clarify misunderstanding in Spanish tourist’s emergency call incident

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have issued a clarification regarding an incident involving Spanish tourist Jesus Abrielle, who encountered difficulties while seeking assistance through the city's emergency helpline. Contrary to earlier reports, the police have denied claims that the helpline operator instructed Abrielle to “speak in Kannada” during his distress call. Abrielle, in his mid-30s, was reportedly frightened and isolated in his groundfloor flat at the Nydus apartment complex in Richmond Town.

In the early morning of January 15, he dialled emergency number 112 after two burglars broke into his home. Despite trying to explain his situation in broken English and Spanish, reports initially claimed that the operator had requested him to speak in Kannada before abruptly ending the call. Reportedly, the incident occurred at around 2:00 AM when the burglars entered the flat through a bedroom window. Abrielle, in another room, heard the noise but did not venture out, fearing for his safety. The burglars spent around 30 minutes in the flat, stealing items including his laptop, platinum ring, wallet with cash, and identification documents, totalling Rs 82,000.

They eventually fled through a sliding window, leaving Abrielle shaken and unable to call for help immediately. His landlord, Sudeep S, was alerted at around 8:30 AM and rushed to the location. Abrielle stayed in his bedroom until he was able to make a successful call to the police later that morning. Clarifying the helpline's response, the Bengaluru police confirmed that no call from Abrielle was recorded at the time of the burglary. They explained that his first call to the helpline at 9:17 AM was disconnected without any conversation.

As per reports, a second call made two minutes later provided limited information, and the operator responded in Kannada, resulting in another disconnection. It was only after neighbours Syed Ashfaq and Syed Abdus Salam called the emergency number that a proper incident report was made, prompting a swift police esponse. A Hoysala vehicle was dispatched but was unable to reach the location due to a lack of response from Abrielle.