In a brazen evening heist that has sent shockwaves through Gorakhpur, a gang of armed robbers stormed the residence of a retired government official and made off with cash and jewellery valued at more than Rs 50 lakh. The terrifying incident, which saw the family held hostage at gunpoint, occurred near Rajhi Maurya Chauraha under the jurisdiction of the AIIMS police station on Monday.
The Terrifying 25-Minute Ordeal
According to police reports, the nightmare began around 7:30 PM on Monday when four masked men arrived on two motorcycles. They knocked on the door of 70-year-old Balendra Singh, a retired Lekhpal. The moment Singh opened the door, one of the assailants pressed a pistol against his temple and forced his way inside, with the others following closely behind, all brandishing firearms.
When Balendra Singh attempted to raise an alarm, he was brutally struck on the head with the butt of a pistol, causing him to bleed. The criminals then rounded up Singh's wife Usha, daughter-in-law Kalpana, and sister-in-law Purnima at gunpoint. The terrified women were forced to remove their gold ornaments before being locked inside a room.
Children Threatened, Almirahs Looted
The robbers escalated their threats by allegedly picking up Singh's two young grandsons and pointing pistols at their heads, threatening to kill them. Fearing for the children's lives, the women complied and handed over the keys to the household almirahs. The criminals then proceeded to ransack the house, collecting valuables worth over Rs 50 lakh.
Throughout the harrowing event, Singh's visually impaired younger brother, Tejbahadur Singh, who was resting in the verandah, remained unharmed. The entire armed robbery and hostage situation lasted approximately 25 minutes, after which the accused fled the scene on their motorcycles.
Police Investigation and Manhunt Launched
An FIR has been registered against unknown persons at the AIIMS police station. Police teams are actively scanning CCTV footage from the surrounding area to identify the culprits, who are believed to be in their early 20s. SP City Abhinav Tyagi confirmed that multiple raids are underway and assured the public that the case would be solved swiftly. The police are pursuing all leads to track down the armed gang responsible for this audacious crime.
The incident has highlighted concerns about security in the area, with locals demanding increased police patrols and vigilance. The investigation continues as authorities work to bring the perpetrators to justice.
