Timely intervention by residents on Friday morning helped avert a robbery.

The criminal, identified as Papu Yadav (32), was caught by passers-by and beaten up while he was trying to snatch a bag from a teacher at Chauhata Mor. He was handed over to police. The bag contained Rs 1.02 lakh.

Papu is a resident of Kodha in Katihar, about 325km northeast of Patna. He was sent to Madhubani district jail after being produced in the court of chief judicial magistrate A.K. Gupta.

Ram Sevak Mahato, who teaches at Raj Nagar Government Middle School had come from his residence at Babubarhi to purchase some goods from the town. Around 8am, Papu pounced on him, snatched the bag and tried to flee the spot. The area falls under the jurisdiction of Town police station.

However, residents gathered and caught hold of Papu after Mahato raised an alarm. Papu was beaten up before being handed over to the police. Mahato was carrying Rs 1.02 lakh in a bag and had come down to shop for a marriage at his home.

The inspector at Town police station, Kumar Kirti, said: “Papu Yadav, a resident of Kodha in Katihar district, was arrested while trying to rob Ram Sevak Mahato of Rs 1.02 lakh at Chauhata Mor. The police, in co-operation with residents, arrested Papu.”

The officer added: “We also recovered keys of a bike’s luggage box and a lock-cutter from him. The credit of the arrest should go to residents who took the risk and caught him. The people foiled the loot bid. Since he was alone and without a vehicle, it seems his accomplice was nearby who managed to flee after the residents caught him. Papu has not divulged any information as yet. We are interrogating him.”

Bishwamohan Jha, an eyewitness, said: “Mahato was standing near a betel shop after parking his bike. After Papu tried to snatch his bag and flee, Mahato shouted for help and tried to catch him. Passers-by took a while to understand the situation before they rushed in.”