Panipat woman held hostage at home

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, June 4

A gang of four armed men held a woman and a labourer hostage at a house in Sector 24 here in broad daylight on Monday. The robbers took away jewellery worth over Rs 10 lakh and Rs 52,000 in cash.

The woman, Bimlesh, was at home with a labourer working on the roof when the robbers struck. Her husband Naresh Gupta and son Vipin were at their shop, Shankar Mawa Bhandar, at the time of the incident.

Jogender, the labourer, said four armed men entered the house after opening the lock at the gate around noon. He said he heard a scream and went inside the house with an iron rod thinking that monkeys had entered the house.

He said as he neared the room, a youth caught him by the neck and pulled him inside. He said one of the robbers put a pistol on his head and another pointed a pistol at the woman, holding them hostage.

He said the robbers slapped him and beat up the woman, asking for details about owner of the house and cash and jewellery.

The robbers looted Bimlesh of Rs 52,000 and around 35-tola gold jewellery. After carrying out the loot, they left in a car. The car was parked near the house and one of the robbers was waiting at the wheel, police sources said.

DSP Jagdeep Duhan, Chandni Bagh SHO Suresh Kumar and CIA teams reached the spot and made enquiries about the crime. A case was registered and four police teams deputed to arrest the culprits, said Duhan.