Businessman’s family and his tenants tied, assaulted in armed robbery in Odisha’s Sundargarh; gold and cash looted

In a startling set of incidents, a group of masked and armed criminals allegedly climbed onto the rooftop of a house, broke in through the rear, and held the family of a businessman hostage at gunpoint, before decamping with cash and valuables extracted in return for the innocent lives.

The late-night robbery took place in Kandabahal village under Sundargarh Sadar police station limits on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

Family Assaulted, Tied & Robbed at Gunpoint

Sources reported that the robbers entered the house of a local businessman, identified as Pradip Patel, around midnight.

Brandishing firearms, they physically assaulted family members, tied them up, and demanded access to valuables. According to eyewitness accounts, the gang was aggressive and showed no hesitation in threatening the family. They also robbed valuables from the house of Patel’s tenants in the same building.

“They broke into my house through the roof and held my son hostage before doing the same with other members of my family. All of them were wearing masks and had split into different groups, one of which also attacked our tenants,” said Pradip Patel, while also adding that he suspected there were more than 10 robbers in total.

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Gold, Cash, and Mobile Phones Looted

In a meticulously executed plan, the dacoits looted several lakhs of gold ornaments, Rs 1 lakh in cash, and multiple mobile phones from the house before fleeing the scene. The robbery unfolded in just a few minutes, giving the criminals ample time to escape before locals or police could respond.

Alarmingly, the men also did the same to the tenants living on the floor above and decamped with lakhs. In his interaction with the press, Patel said that the group used devices to communicate with one another, with several of them likely keeping a watch on the roof and the area nearby.

“It was a coordinated attack. They talked in Hindi and appeared to have planned out the crime in detail. They fled before we could even think of anything,” he said.

Meanwhile, family members of the two affected households, who sustained injuries during the crime, received treatment at a local hospital for varying injuries.

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Police Launch Manhunt, Crime Scene Under Investigation

Soon after receiving information, the Sundargarh police reached the crime scene along with a scientific team and sniffer dogs. As of the last reports, forensic experts are examining the area for clues, and authorities have promised a swift investigation.

A manhunt is currently underway to trace the gang.

“We are treating this case as a top priority. Our teams are analysing possible leads, and suspects will be brought to justice soon. Investigations are ongoing, with CCTV footage from the region being reviewed,” said SDPO Nirmal Mohapatra.