Dacoits decamp with valuables worth Rs 44 lakh

Intruders in underwear strike at former GP chief's house

Five armed men looted valuables worth Rs 44 lakh from the house of a former gram panchayat president near Venkatagiri Kote in Devanahalli taluk late on Tuesday night.

The masked men in their underwear barged into the house by breaking open the door with a boulder. The intruders overpowered Kumari Govindaraju, a family member, while he was loading his licensed revolver.

The intruders beat up Govindaraju and his wife before tying the hands and legs of his relative Balaji and her daughter Shailaja, the police said.

CCTV cameras smashed

The gang also smashed the two CCTV cameras installed outside the house and decamped with Rs eight lakh in cash, one kilo gold, half a kg of silver, together worth Rs 44 lakh.
Balaji managed to untie himself and nabbed one of the dacoits.

However, he had to let him go after the other gang members assaulted Balaji.
According to the police, the gang zeroed in on the house since it was situated in an isolated place along National Highway-7.

The house was built three months ago. The police said that though the dacoits smashed the CCTV cameras, there were some footages which have provided vital clues to arrest the intruders.

They suspect that people having knowledge of the family’s business and financial condition are involved in the crime. A case has been registered.