A gang of dacoits, struck at the residence of Dr. Satish of Arunodaya hospital, in Ashok Nagar of Avambhavi locality in the city, late last night and decamped with 400 grams of gold and Rs. five lakh in cash.
The gang, comprising eight to ten members, brandishing knives, screw drivers and blunt weapons, gained entry by breaking open the rear entrance, attached to the kitchen, between 2.30 and 4.00 am. None of the eight residents of the house were harmed.
The gang members threatened Mr. Markandeya, Dr. Satish’s father, sleeping in the hall on the ground floor, of dire consequences if he raised an alarm. They forced Mr. Markandeya to reveal details of the number of residents in the house and the location of cash and gold.
After looting gold and cash from the safe and cupboards, the gang entered the bedroom where Suresh, Dr. Satish’s brother, was sleeping and followed the same modus operandi.
The gang also searched a room on the first floor, which was used as an office, and after making an unsuccessful attempt to break open the third bedroom in which Dr. Satish was sleeping, they fled.
“Immediately after entering our room, they said they were here to take cash and gold and asked us to surrender or else they would harm us. They snatched away the mobiles and disconnected telephone connections. The gang insisted that the men should sleep on the cot covering their face fully with the blanket. Without any alternative we were forced to obey”, Mr. Markandeya told The Hindu adding that they were able to communicate with the police only after the gang had left.
The members of the gang, speaking Telugu and Kannada, also relieved the residents of their gold ornaments.
On getting the information, senior police officials, including Dr. Chetan Singh Rathore, Superintendent of Police, C.K. Baba, Additional SP, rushed to the spot with dog squad and fingerprint experts.
Dr. Rathore said that apart from carrying out combing operations, four teams, led by Police inspectors, had been formed to nab the dacoits. Bellary (rural) police have registered a case.
