Budaun,

21 May (HS): Dacoits dressed only in underwear carried out a series of

robberies in Mustafabad and Sithauli villages nearby, taking families hostage

and injuring many people, authorities reported on Thursday. Armed attackers

mounted the wall of farmer Nizakat's home during wee hours and held his family

captive.

When

refused, they attacked the family members, gravely wounding six, and fled with

four tolas of gold, three kilos of silver, and Rs 1.25 lakh in cash. The

injured were sent to the district hospital. According to the authorities, the

thieves thrashed ladies for having a chicken meal at home and instructed them

to only eat vegetables. The criminals then went after four more residences in

Sithauli, seizing jewelry and money.

Local

officials acted late at night, after Bareilly Range DIG Ajay Kumar Sahni

inspected the residences and urged swift action. Sahni stated that five teams

had been dispatched to investigate the robberies.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi