A group of unidentified miscreants allegedly broke into the house of a gold trader in Cuttack district on Saturday night and fled with gold jewellery and cash worth Rs 52 lakh after threatening the family at gunpoint. The incident occurred at Hatiapalli Chhak under Kanpur police station limits at the residence of Kailash Chandra Sethi, who operates a jewellery shop in the locality.

According to the complaint, seven masked assailants stormed the house late at night while the trader’s daughter was studying. The intruders reportedly threatened the family with weapons and forcibly took cash and gold ornaments from Sethi and his wife. Initial estimates pegged the loss at Rs 35 lakh in gold and Rs 18 lakh in cash, but the trader later confirmed the total value of stolen property was Rs 52 lakh.

Family Allegedly Threatened

Narrating the ordeal, Sethi said, “They suddenly entered the house and threatened to kill us if we didn’t hand over the cash and jewellery. They assaulted me with a machete and took all the ornaments we were wearing. We had packed everything to leave for Cuttack. There was Rs 40 lakh in cash and jewellery worth several lakhs, amounting to Rs 52 lakh. They locked us inside the house before escaping.”

Reports indicate that the trader’s daughter, who was awake and studying, first heard noises and went to check. The miscreants allegedly threatened her with a weapon, prompting her to scream for her parents. When Sethi and his wife arrived, the assailants demanded the locker keys and assaulted them when they hesitated.

Police Probe Begins 

Police have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the area. A dog squad was deployed to assist in the probe. Though the identities of the robbers remain unknown, two of them were reportedly heard speaking in Odia. Police suspect the gang may have had prior knowledge of Sethi’s routine of returning home with jewellery and cash each night.

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A case has been registered, and efforts are underway to identify and arrest the culprits.