ROURKELA: Four armed miscreants reportedly looted gold ornaments and cash worth around Rs 40 lakh from the house of a businesswoman in Bonai area of Sundargarh district in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.
Police said the miscreants raided the house of Trupti Rekha Sahu (54) at Hatapada of Bazaar Road in Bonai, about 70 km from Rourkela, at around 12.30 am. They overpowered Trupti and her daughter Nikita (26), tied the duo and decamped with around 150 gram of gold and Rs 22 lakh cash. Trupti runs an electrical shop near her house.
Police have detained Trupti’s male house help Sanat Behera (30) of Reamal in Deogarh district for questioning.
Sources said on Sunday night, the mother-daughter duo was present in the house while Sanat was in a room outside. The house help was reportedly taken hostage by the miscreants who forced him to call Trupti over phone on the pretext of seeking medicines for stomachache. When the woman opened the door, the miscreants entered the house. After staying inside for a couple of hours, they decamped with the cash and gold ornaments.
On Monday, Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani visited the spot to take stock of the investigation. He said four miscreants were involved in the crime. They were carrying toy guns and a sharp weapon. Preliminary investigation suggests that it was a well-planned crime and the role of the victim family’s house help is under scrutiny.
Sources said after the death of her husband, Trupti was running the electrical shop with her daughter. Sanat was assisting them both in household chores and business works.
IIC of Bonai police station G Sahu said the victim family’s domestic help has not been consistent in his statements. The circumstances leading to the crime are being analysed. Nearby police stations have been alerted. Investigation is underway from all angles and police have got vital clues.
