Robbers struck at the residence of a contractor in East Delhi and robbed cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees after holding his wife and domestic helps hostage while 1.25 kg gold was robbed from a jeweller in New Friends Colony who was also taken hostage by bike-borne assailants.
More than five armed robbers barged into the Mandawali house of NDMC contractor Vinod Aggarwal and held his wife and domestic helps hostage before decamping with `4.5 lakhs in cash and nearly 50 tolas of gold.
The incident took place at residence Aggarwal who lives with his wife, Rama Devi, 50, two sons, Ankur and Aakash and his daughter-in-law in flat number 155/2, Mandawali. Ankur and Aakash are software engineers in Gurgaon-based companies. The incident occurred around 9.30 pm on Wednesday when Rama and two domestic helps, Renu and Laxmi, were at home.
“The assailants introduces themselves as friends of her husband who had come to give Diwali gift. When Rama opened the door, one of the assailants took out a knife and held her hostage. His associates held the domestic helps at gunpoint and locked them in a room,” said a police officer. The assailants then threatened Rama and told her to hand over cash and jewellery. They decamped with `4.5 lakhs and 50 tola gold.
The victim then informed the police. A crime team and fingerprint experts reached the spot. “Ankur, Aakash were on duty while Vinod had gone to Hardwar. Ankur is married while Aakash’s marriage is scheduled next month and the family had hence purchased gold recently. Prima facie it seems to be the handiwork of someone close to the family. They might have known that gold is kept in the house,” a police officer said.
In another incident, two bike-borne robbers robbed 1.25 kg gold from a jeweller. The victim, Rakesh Aggarwal, a resident of Sarita Vihar, was intercepted by two armed bike-borne robbers near Ashram flyover. “Rakesh was carrying 1.25 kg gold and was about to board an autorickshaw when the bikers intercepted him and asked him to hand over the bag. When he refused, one biker took out a revolver and threatened to kill him. A case has been registered and probe is on.