Dacoits on 90-minute terror run
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 12:35 am
Bokaro, Jan. 31: In the fifth break-in in the district in 24 hours, an armed gang of 25 cleaned out cash and valuables worth Rs 25 lakh from the house of a leading Bokaro transporter in a terrifying 90-minute operation that left five persons hospitalised in the small hours today.
The daring dacoity took place at Telidih on NH-23, which links Bokaro to coal town Dhanbad. Ironically, the target — an 18-room house belonging to transporter Nawal Sharma — is in the proximity of not one but two police stations, Chas and Chas Mufassil.
The post-midnight mayhem has punched further holes in the police’s claim of better urban policing even after sundown. In fact, a police patrol jeep passed the house after midnight but got no wind of the incident.
Speaking to The Telegraph from a private nursing home in Chas, Sharma, who runs fleets of buses and trucks in Bokaro as well as Chas, the criminals first targeted his family and then that of his two tenants — retired SDO R.K. Singh and former army officer Harihar Prasad.
The transporter said his brother Parameshwar heard a loud thud around 1am and woke up along with tenant Prasad. They spotted three men, faces covered with mufflers, in the backyard and attacked them with sticks.
Little did the duo know what they were up against. Soon gunshots were heard. “More than 20 others barged in through the back door with pistols, swords and iron rods,” Sharma said.
The gang first targeted Prasad, who has served in the Bihar Regiment for 25 years, and broke his hands with rods. They also beat up Sharma’s brother before commanding them to hand over all mobile phones in the house.
“My wife Indu and I woke up hearing the commotion. We were assaulted and keys to lockers were taken away,” the transporter said.
Tenant Singh too was beaten up while wife Renu slapped when she protested.
Sharma said they heard a police siren outside but could not scream for help, as they were being held at gunpoint.
According to his 15-year-old maid Gudia, who hid behind a cot, the criminals spoke in a mixed tongue of Bengali, Hindi and Khortha.
They took 230gm gold ornaments, diamond rings and earrings, and Rs 22,500 in cash from the Sharmas; 150gm gold and Rs 16,000 cash from the Singhs; and 200gm gold, diamond jewellery and Rs 25,000 cash from the former armyman and his wife Asha.
Bokaro SP Saket Singh said police reached the spot around 2.45am, within 15 minutes of being informed. He claimed they had a lead on the gang and said its members would be arrested soon.
Yesterday, three jewellery stores and a cellphone shop in the city were burgled.
Ref: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110201/j ... 518793.jsp
The daring dacoity took place at Telidih on NH-23, which links Bokaro to coal town Dhanbad. Ironically, the target — an 18-room house belonging to transporter Nawal Sharma — is in the proximity of not one but two police stations, Chas and Chas Mufassil.
The post-midnight mayhem has punched further holes in the police’s claim of better urban policing even after sundown. In fact, a police patrol jeep passed the house after midnight but got no wind of the incident.
Speaking to The Telegraph from a private nursing home in Chas, Sharma, who runs fleets of buses and trucks in Bokaro as well as Chas, the criminals first targeted his family and then that of his two tenants — retired SDO R.K. Singh and former army officer Harihar Prasad.
The transporter said his brother Parameshwar heard a loud thud around 1am and woke up along with tenant Prasad. They spotted three men, faces covered with mufflers, in the backyard and attacked them with sticks.
Little did the duo know what they were up against. Soon gunshots were heard. “More than 20 others barged in through the back door with pistols, swords and iron rods,” Sharma said.
The gang first targeted Prasad, who has served in the Bihar Regiment for 25 years, and broke his hands with rods. They also beat up Sharma’s brother before commanding them to hand over all mobile phones in the house.
“My wife Indu and I woke up hearing the commotion. We were assaulted and keys to lockers were taken away,” the transporter said.
Tenant Singh too was beaten up while wife Renu slapped when she protested.
Sharma said they heard a police siren outside but could not scream for help, as they were being held at gunpoint.
According to his 15-year-old maid Gudia, who hid behind a cot, the criminals spoke in a mixed tongue of Bengali, Hindi and Khortha.
They took 230gm gold ornaments, diamond rings and earrings, and Rs 22,500 in cash from the Sharmas; 150gm gold and Rs 16,000 cash from the Singhs; and 200gm gold, diamond jewellery and Rs 25,000 cash from the former armyman and his wife Asha.
Bokaro SP Saket Singh said police reached the spot around 2.45am, within 15 minutes of being informed. He claimed they had a lead on the gang and said its members would be arrested soon.
Yesterday, three jewellery stores and a cellphone shop in the city were burgled.
Ref: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110201/j ... 518793.jsp
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