Man smothered in armed robbery

His parents held hostage, cash looted

A 35-year-old man was smothered during armed robbery at his house in east Delhi’s Preet Vihar by six to seven masked assailants in the wee hours of Thursday. The robbers also held his parents hostage, and fled with Rs 25,000 in cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees, police said.

Animesh Dutta was unmarried and owned a textile shop at Preet Vihar.

He lived with his father S K Dutta, 70, who retired from the post of director of prosecution with the Delhi government, and mother Prabha, 67, at Madhuban block B.
Police said Animesh was declared brought dead at Metro Hospital.

After initial investigation, police confirmed that over five robbers entered the house around 2.30 am after breaking the grill of a window on the ground floor.

“They barged into the room where Dutta and his wife were sleeping,” a police officer said.
When the elderly couple tried to resist, the assailants — armed with country-made pistols and knives — tied their hands and legs and gagged them with cloth.

Hearing the commotion, Animesh came to the room, but was overpowered.

“They smothered Animesh with a pillow after he raised his voice,” the officer added.
The miscreants stayed in the house for almost an hour and ransacked the entire house. They fled with cash and jewellery items.

Later, Prabha managed to set herself free and alerted neighbours.

She also called her married daughter Bushra who lives in the same area.
A call was also made to the police control room after which a PCR van along with officers of Preet Vihar police station arrived at 3.30 am.

“Animesh was taken to Metro Hospital, where he was declared brought dead,” the officer said.

After the family’s statement was recorded, a case of murder and dacoity was registered with Preet Vihar police station.

“We have launched a manhunt to arrest the accused persons,” the officer added.
Dutta told police that he and his wife were sleeping when they heard a commotion.
“We saw around six to seven men when we went to the living room. When I tried to stop them, they placed a gun on my forehead and asked me to direct them to cash and jewellery,” he said.

Later, they tied the couple and bundled them in a room.

“We heard commotion in other rooms. We also heard our son shouting at them, but could not see what they did to him,” Dutta said.