Postmaster’s family held hostage in Odisha; looters flee with cash and gold kept for daughter’s marriage

In the dark hours of the night on Saturday, a group of four armed miscreants allegedly broke into the house of a postmaster at Tentei village under Soro police limits in Odisha’s Balasore district. The miscreants allegedly tied up the postmaster Batakrishna Mallick and his wife and looted Rs 5 lakh cash and gold jewellery. 

The horrifying incident of armed robbery has left the residents of the village in a state of panic and shock.

More Details About The Incident

The terrifying ordeal unfolded late last night when the Mallick family had retired for the day. According to reports, the robbers gained entry into the house by forcefully breaking open the back door. 

Once inside, they overpowered the couple, bound their hands and legs, and held their daughter at knifepoint to extract information about the family's valuables.

The robbers reportedly looted around Rs 5 lakh in cash, which the family had painstakingly saved for their daughter’s upcoming wedding.  In addition to the cash, they also stole nearly gold ornaments from the house before fleeing the scene undetected.

The terrified family immediately reported the matter to the Soro Police Station, following which police personnel arrived at the location and began an initial probe. 

A forensic team has also been deployed to gather evidence from the crime scene. Police sources have revealed that the pattern of the robbery closely resembles a similar incident that took place in the same village recently, where another household was targeted in an almost identical manner.

Locals are expressing growing concern over the recurrence of such crimes and have urged authorities to increase night patrolling and improve security arrangements in the area. "This is not the first time our village has been targeted. We are living in fear, and immediate action is needed to ensure the safety of our families," said a resident of Tentei village.

While the police investigation is underway, no arrests have been made yet. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas and questioning suspects to trace the perpetrators. Police have also assured the public that stringent action will be taken and that all efforts are being made to bring the culprits to justice.

The incident has once again brought to light the urgent need for better rural security mechanisms and community awareness to prevent such brazen acts of crime in the future.

(By Smruti Sarita)