With Winter Session on, sensational armed dacoity rocks second capital

 

 

 

A gang of five armed robbers carried out a daring robbery at a house in Jagdamba Nagar, Kapil Nagar, on Wednesday night. They stole cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 11.20 lakh, including Rs 6 lakh in cash. The robbers arrived under the cover of darkness and broke into Pandey family's home by cutting through three iron window grills. Armed with knives and an iron rod, they threatened the sleeping family members. Fearing for their lives, the family gave in to the robbers’ demands and allowed them to steal valuable items from the house. The dacoity has raised serious concerns about the crime graph in the city, especially as the State Legislature’s Winter Session is currently underway. The robbery took place at the house of Rajesh Chhedilal Pandey, a 60-year-old businessman, between 2.30 am and 3.50 am. His wife woke up to strange sounds in the house around 2.30 am.

 

When she checked, she was shocked to see five masked-men, armed with knives and one holding an iron rod, had entered her home. In panic, she quickly woke up her husband, Pandey, who realised they were being robbed. The robbers, aged between 20 and 40 years, ordered the family to stay silent and cooperate. They threatened to kill them if they didn’t follow the orders. The robbers dragged the family into the bedroom and forced Rajesh Pandey to open a cupboard where valuables were kept. They stole a large amount of cash, gold jewellry, silver items, and electronics. They also took the family’s CCTV DVR, possibly to destroy any evidence of the crime. The robbery lasted more than an hour and was carried out with frightening efficiency which left the family terrified. The stolen items included Rs six lakh in cash, several pieces of gold jewellry, such as a 40-gram ‘Rani Haar’ worth Rs 1.20 lakh, a 35-gram ‘Mangalsutra’ worth Rs 1.05 lakh, a 15-gram gold necklace valued at Rs 45,000, and two gold bracelets weighing 60 grams, worth Rs 1.80 lakh. The thieves also took silver jewelry worth Rs 15,000 and several electronic items, including the CCTV DVR. The total value of the stolen goods was estimated at Rs 11,20,000. After the robbery, the gang stole Pandey’s Scorpio car, taking the keys from the family.

 

They also took six mobile phones. One of the robbers was overheard saying, “I got less than I expected,” which suggested that they were not satisfied with the loot. The gang then forced Rajesh Pandey into his car and drove him to Naka No 2, near Uppalwadi Hanuman Dam along Koradi Devi Mandir Road. They left him there and drove off with the car. Stranded Pandey managed to find a nearby truck and used it to call the police. Officers quickly arrived at the scene and began their investigation. Pandey returned home, where the police found that three iron window grills had been cut open which allowed the robbers to enter.

 

The robbers had also disabled the family’s security systems. With the help of the complainant’s description of the stolen items and the car, along with local surveillance footage, police later recovered the stolen Scorpio car and six mobile phones near the Manjhi Railway Tunnel, several kilometers from the crime scene. This helped confirm Pandey’s account of the robbery. An FIR has been filed under 310(4) and 140 of the BNS. However, despite the detailed description, no arrests have been made yet. Police are investigating the possibility that this was a well-organised gang that often targets wealthy homes. They are also reviewing nearby CCTV footage and coordinating with neighboring areas to track the suspects.