BHUBANESWAR: In a shocking incident here on Monday, an elderly couple was robbed of their valuables in broad daylight by four men who posed as prospective tenants at Gandamunda area of the city.
The incident occurred when Subas Chandra Prusty (72) was resting in his bedroom and his wife Shradhanjali Prusty (62) had gone to attend a knock at the door. Four persons who had approached the couple for letting the second floor of their house on rent had gone upstairs to check the rooms.
On their return, they knocked the door to return back the keys. However, the moment Shardhanjali opened the door, one among the four gagged her mouth with adhesive tape and tied her hands. Shradhanjali’s younger sister Kabyanjali Sahoo, who was present in the house rushed, towards the living room when she heard a feeble groaning.
On spotting her sister in a precarious situation, Kabyanjali managed to escape through a window to seek help. Meanwhile, she alerted Subas that Shradhanjali was in danger. When Subas came to his wife’s rescue, he was assaulted by one of the miscreants who snatched a gold chain and ring from the elderly man. The group took away Shardhanjali's ornaments too.
The criminals abandoned their plan of looting the almirah when they realised that Kabyanjali had escaped a few minutes back and may inform the police or neighbours. The four miscreants swiftly made their way out with gold ornaments worth three to four lakh. Soon after Kabyanjali arrived with others from the locality after which the matter was reported to Khandagiri police.
The person who wanted the house on rent had come to the house twice on Sunday morning and evening. “He told since a cousin sister would stay here, his uncle wants to see the accommodation once. Today he came with three other persons and claimed that one of them was his uncle,” said Subrat whose son works at Visakhapatnam and daughter is in the USA. Subrat retired from State Government service as an Assistant Block Development Officer.
When people were busy celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, Sunday’s incident has sent shock-waves among elderly people. Subrat’s house is located in an upmarket area which remains extremely busy in the day hours, given that it is located close to educational institutions.
Assault and robbery in elderly couple’s house has posed serious questions on their security for the Twin-City Commissionerate of Police which had recently bagged a National level award for Women Safety and Elderly Safety at New Delhi.