Cops still clueless in Civil Lines dacoity

• CCTV footage is the only concrete evidence with the police to track down the accused

By Dheeraj Fartode

City police force is still hunting for clues to get breakthrough in daring dacoity at beetelnut merchant’s Civil Lines residence, which falls under the jurisdiction of Sitabuldi police station area. The police have explored records of all history-sheeters and still crawling for angle of investigations. The police, with well pictured CCTV footage, are not sure about identity of the decoits and whether the accused were locals or outsiders. 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP Zone-I) Abhinash Kumar said that the police have all information and would take about 48 hours to crack the case. However, he denied to share any details of investigation or clues saying everything would be disclosed only after proper breakthrough. 

Sprawling bunglow of Lalit Kothari, 

Temple road, Civil Lines. 

Frontal image of the goon captured by one of the CCTV camera resembled with a known history-sheeter residing within Ambazari police station jurisdiction. However, the victim could not confirm whether the same goon was part of gang. Sources informed that CCTV footage is the only concrete evidence with the police to track down the accused. Pictures of the accused was clear hence, special teams of Crime Branch are frantically searching for the accused using these photographs. The dacoits were either native of Bihar or West Bengal. And, they entered the house with plans to get jewelry worth Rs 1 crore. Only one member of the gang, had covered his face as he knew about installation of CCTV in the house. It means that the accused were dare to public their identity, sources claimed. Two accused were in age group of 35-40 years and remaining three were below 30 years. 

It can be mentioned that entire top brass of city police force with key investigation teams had visited the spot. Commissioner of Police K K Pathak himself arrived fast and was seen in consultations with his key officers.

A dog squad was also called but was of little help as due to rains it could not lift the scent from the crime spot. The police have also questioned Security guard of Kothari, who was on leave on the day of crime. But, the police found nothing suspicious. 

The gang could easily target a bungalow of beetulnut merchant Lalit Kothari, on Wednesday night. According to police, the dacoits walked away with booty worth Rs 6.2 lakh. However, sources confirmed that actual estimated loss was close to Rs 15 lakh. 

Ujjwal Lalit Kothari (36), along with her daughter were watching Television at home when they heard ringing of doorbell. The dacoits first rang the door bell and then moved away from front door. Ujjwal saw through key hole but could not find anyone at the door and hence stepped out to verify as to who had rang the bell. 

The dacoits who had taken position by side of wall grabbed her and pushed her inside the bungalow. They dragged the little daughter in the house and latched the door.

The gang had bandished a firearm and sharp weapons as the youth held the frightened mother-daughter duo in a corner of the house. Only after seven minutes of span, Lalit along with his friend arrived at the house. One youth held the little girl and directed the frightened homemaker to open the door without making any alarm while two youth hid behind the door. The dacoits had let Kothari enter into home and his friend were shoved aside and held at gun point. After collecting gold ornaments the dacoits sped on mobikes.

‘Galat Ghar Me Ghuse’

“Galat Ghar Me Ghuse,” (entered into the wrong house), was the line of dacoits, who robbed the house on gun-point. The sources learnt that the dacoits had planned to rob bullion merchent Kothari’s house. However, their plan shattered as they assumed Lalit Kothari as bullion merchent.