An elderly woman and her eight-year-old grandson were held hostage at knifepoint by robbers inside their house at north-east Delhi’s Seemapuri on Wednesday. The assailants decamped with cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees.

Nanhi Begum, 80, and Ibraham were found with their hands tied and mouth taped at their Dilshad Colony house. Nanhi lives with her daughter Mushral Jahan, 55, and granddaughter Fareen, 17.

Police said Mushral had gone to drop Fareen for her tuition classes when the incident took place around 6 pm. “When Mushral returned after half an hour, she found the main door of the house locked from outside,” a police officer said.

She entered the house, and found Nanhi and Ibraham in the washroom. Mushral immediately informed police, after which a crime team inspected the spot.

Nanhi told police that three armed men forcibly entered into the house soon after Mushral left.

“The assailants were carrying knives and threatened to kill if we refused to handover money,” Nanhi said.

They then kept Ibraham at knifepoint and forced Nanhi to handover valuables. They ransacked the entire house, and decamped with cash and gold jewellery worth about Rs 10 lakh.

“The robbers also tied Nanhi and Ibraham’s hands and locked them in the washroom before fleeing,” the officer added.

The victims were later provided medical assistance at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. A case of robbery under Indian Penal Code was lodged with Seemapuri police station over Mushral’s statement.

Mushral had called Nanhi to her house around 12 days back due to Fareen’s ongoing board examination.

Police have initiated a manhunt and put several suspects, including some local goons, under scanner.