Mohali, May 2: Four car-borne miscreants took a woman and her three children, between seven and eight years, hostage at gunpoint and knives at her residence and decamped with cash and gold jewellery in the evening today.
The incident occurred at Victoria Heights at Peer Muchalla in Zirakpur at around 5 pm when four youth, who were travelling in a white-coloured Accent car, entered the building and headed towards flat of Rakesh Verma, who deals in wholesale gold jewellery business.
Though the family preferred to remain tight-lipped about the incident and their loss, it was stated by some of their acquaintances that the miscreants had taken away cash and jewellery worth several crores.
“The miscreants were seen coming out of the flat with two suitcases and two bags,” claimed some residents in the locality.
However, the police said the miscreants had taken away Rs 3.5 lakh in cash and three gold necklaces. The estimated loss was stated to be nearly Rs 20 lakh, the police added.
The robbers were carrying two pistols and two knives, sources said while adding that Rakesh Verma was not at home at the time of the incident.
“Verma was away with his friends. His wife Jinu Verma along with their two children, a son and a daughter and a neighbour’s kid, was at home when the miscreants entered the premises,” said sources.
Immediately, after entering the house, the robbers gagged the woman and children with tapes and took them hostage at gunpoint and knives, the sources added. The robbers also tied them up with tapes.
The sources claimed that the robbers came out of the flat at around 5.30 pm and fled in their car.
The matter came to light when Jinu managed to free herself and her children after the robbers had left and raised an alarm.
The police said the car used in the crime had a fake registration number of Faridkot. “When we checked, it was found that the registration number was of some truck,” said the police.
“We are scanning footage of the CCTV cameras in the area and also got some vital clues in the case,” the police added.
Meanwhile, Rakesh Verma and his wife were tight-lipped about the incident.
When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mohali, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, said his team was at the crime spot. “Thorough investigation in the case is on. Credentials of some persons are also being verified,” said the SSP.
“A case in this connection has been registered at the Dhakoli police station,” he added.
