Scarborough heroes fend off criminals

When it comes to their livelihood, a Scarborough couple stood their ground and defended their store.

Jeyanthini and his wife Premanath Kanapanathan owners of Rashi Silks House at 2649 Eglinton Ave. E. fought off two armed teenagers attempting to rob them Tuesday. Police say the accused, two 17-year-olds, entered the store at around 4:30 p.m. with a handgun. Jeyanthi Kanapanathan wrestled with one of the accused and managed to take the gun away.

“I held his hand and I didn’t remove it. After he beat my head I was fighting with him,” he said. “I knew he already had a gun that’s why I held his arm. If I removed it then he would have shot me.”

Premanath Kanapanathan managed to escape from the store, but came back to help her husband.

“Yes, I came back and I helped him…I pushed down the rack and my husband managed to get the gun from the guy. After that he [my husband] fought with them.”

Eventually both the accused ran from the store and were later caught and arrested by police.

Both say since they first opened their business 14 years ago, nothing like this has happened before. And even after going through this terrifying ordeal both say they still feel safe there.

“Yes, it’s safe. Why should we be scared? We’re all human,” Jeyanthini said.

“We can manage,” Premanath said.

The accused are facing a total of 11 charges.

About this article

By: Joanne Kaileh and Mark A. Cadiz
Copy editor: Paula Last
Posted: Feb 15 2013 8:40 pm
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Filed under: News
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