Mangaluru : A driver who was transporting mangoes was assaulted by a group of three men and was robbed of ₹ 70,000 in cash in Kankanady Town Police limits here on Sunday morning.

According to the police, the victim, Farooq (32), a resident of Ulaibettu, was driving along with two others to Central Market with mangoes loaded in his van when the three men riding a two-wheeler intercepted him near Kulashekara Silver Gate.

At that moment, Ashfak and Lateef, who were accompanying Farooq, fled, while the assailants allegedly assaulted the driver with sharp weapons.

They drove away the vehicle for a distance and abandoned both the driver and the vehicle before decamping with the cash, the police said.

Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil said that he has formed three special teams to arrest the assailants even as the police rounded up about 30 suspects from the locality and questioned them.

Kankanady Town Police, who have registered a case, are investigating.

The police are also investigating whether the attack was triggered by a likely case of illegal cattle transportation.