Jharsuguda: In a major late-night heist, four armed miscreants carried out a robbery at Vinayak Puram, near Man Mohan ME School, around 8:30 pm on Wednesday. The assailants stormed into a house, held the family hostage at gunpoint for over three hours, and decamped with more than Rs. 14 lakhs in cash along with gold and silver ornaments.
Despite the location is around 600 meters away from Jharsuguda Police Station, the incident has sparked concern among local residents, as the robbery occurred at a time when the locality is usually active.
According to family members, Mukesh Buchwani, a grocery wholesaler, had just closed the front shutter of his shop when four men armed with a gun and knives sneaked in through another entrance. They threatened him at gunpoint and demanded cash. When he raised an alarm, his father and wife rushed from their residence, which is in the same premises, but they too were overpowered, tied up, and taken inside the house and kept them tied in a room for nearly three hours. The miscreants allegedly looted around Rs.14 lakh in cash, gold, and silver ornaments before fleeing the scene at 11:15 pm in the night.
Recounting the ordeal, Buchwani said, “I had just closed the front shutter of my shop when four armed men entered from the back of my shop. They showed me a gun and demanded money. When I shouted, they attacked me with a knife, injuring my right hand. They tied me and my family, kept us inside the house, and took away all the cash, gold, and silver before escaping.”
During this the miscreants had also left a country made pistol at the shop which has been seized by police officials.
Jharsuguda Police have launched a massive manhunt to trace the accused. Multiple teams have been formed, and surveillance has been intensified across the district.
Jharsuguda SP G.R. Raghavendra said, “We received information soon after the incident. Four people had entered the house and taken away cash and valuables. We are examining CCTV footage, conducting technical analysis, and involving the scientific team and dog squad. Several teams are already investigating to nab the culprits.”
