Puri: A group of robbers armed with weapons struck the house of a retired government employee at Ginary Bridge Square, attacked the occupants before decamping with cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees late Friday night.
The owner of the house, Prafulla Kumar Nanda, lodged complaint with Baseli Sahi police Saturday morning. A case has been registered and a police team visited the house and began a probe.
According to sources, Nanda, a retired employee of BSNL, lives there with his wife Bijaylaxmi. The couple was asleep Friday night when a group of seven to eight miscreants gained entry to the house by breaking open the iron grille and door.
Nanda’s wife woke up after hearing the noise and tried to call the neighbours when one of the miscreants hit her head with a wooden plank. Bijaylaxmi became senseless and fell on the ground. Nanda came to the rescue of his wife, but was attacked by the miscreants. The miscreants threatened the couple with life if they try to call the neighbour or call the cops.
The robbers then broke open the almirah and took eight gold bangles, four gold bracelets, Rs 5,000 in cash. They also snatched away a gold chain Bijaylaxmi was wearing. “The miscreants threatened to cut me and my wife into small pieces if we cry for help or call the cops,” Nanda told mediapersons.
“I was so frightened that I could not react. The next day I informed the neighbours and relatives about the robbery and subsequently lodged the complaint,” Nanda added.
A forensic team and a dog squad visited the spot. Besides, additional SP Jagannath Pradhan, city DSP Prasanta Patnaik, Baseli Sahi inspector-in-charge Girija Shankar Patnaik and other officials also visited the house and took stock of the situation.
Baseli Sahi IIC recorded the statements of the couple and questioned some neighbours. “The probe is underway and we will nab the robbers at the earliest,” additional SP said.
PNN
