A family fell victim to a late-night attack by six armed dacoits, who held them hostage and robbed them of Rs 8 lakh in cash at knife-point in the Hudkeshwar area. The shocking event unfolded in the Rotkar Layout near New Om Nagar, causing widespread panic throughout the city. As of late Saturday night, the police have not apprehended the culprits responsible for the crime. The targeted individual, Amit Chandrakant Durugkar (34), a florist, resides with his family in a two-storey house in Rotkar Layout.

The armed assailants executed their plan around 2 am on Saturday, gaining entry to the first floor where Amit's elder brother Swapnil and his family live. The dacoits strategically locked Swapnil's room from the outside and disrupted the electricity supply to the house by tampering with the external meter. The sudden darkness prompted Amit's mother to investigate the situation. When she attempted to open Swapnil's door, the dacoits, wielding swords, crowbars, and sticks, forcefully restrained the elderly woman.

Holding a weapon to her neck, the criminals threatened harm if any noise was made. Subsequently, Amit was taken to the bedroom, where the dacoits searched the cupboards. The primary target of the robbery was the Rs 8 lakh cash that Amit had stored in a bag for his business transactions. Meanwhile, Swapnil grew suspicious and dialled emergency services (112), alerting neighbours of the noise. Fearing arrest, the dacoits hastily fled the scene as Swapnil raised the alarm, according to the police. Deputy Commissioner of Police for Zone 4 Vijaykant Sagar, Senior Police Inspector of Hudkeshwar Police Station Shubhangi Deshmukh, and the police station and Crime Branch staff arrived at the crime scene, registering a case of robbery.

A police official suspects that the perpetrators had prior knowledge of Amit's business transactions, as they discussed the cash in his possession during the ordeal. The police are currently investigating potential connections between the dacoits and individuals associated with Amit's business.