Couple held hostage during robbery in Ashoknagar:Robbers looted gold and cash; attacked victims’ eyes and face with screwdriver, tied them to cot before fleeing

A group of 6–7 unidentified robbers broke into the house of former sarpanch Mahendra Singh Yadav in Khaijra Atari village, Ashoknagar district, late Monday night. They held the elderly couple hostage and looted around 25 tolas of gold and Rs 2.5 lakh in cash before fleeing the scene. Before fleeing, the robbers tied the couple to a cot to prevent them from calling for help. Entered through the roof According to police sources, the robbers entered the house through the roof while the couple was asleep. They covered Mahendra Singh’s mouth with a towel, bound his hands and legs with a blanket, and restrained him while others ransacked the cupboards and boxes for valuables. Pictures after the incident Attacked with screwdriver for resisting When the couple resisted, the robbers attacked them with a screwdriver, injuring Mahendra Singh’s eyes and face. He also suffered a bleeding nose after being punched. The robbers assaulted and threatened his wife to keep her quiet. House located away from the village The couple’s home is located far from the main settlement, and they have no children, leaving only the two of them at home. After struggling to free themselves, they informed relatives, who then alerted the police. A dog squad and forensic team reached the spot to investigate. Gold brought home for Diwali puja Preliminary investigation suggests that the stolen gold was brought home for Diwali rituals. Police suspect an organized gang’s involvement. Search operations underway Additional Superintendent of Police Gajendra Singh Kanwar said that although there are no CCTV cameras in the village, footage from nearby areas and toll plazas is being examined. Multiple police teams have been deployed to track the culprits.
Locals have demanded enhanced night patrolling to prevent such incidents in the future.