The Tribune, January 10, 2002

Customs Officer’s house looted in Sonepat 
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, January 9. At least six unidentified armed bandits forced their way into the residence of Mr Mohinder Singh, a Custom Officer in Sector 14, a residential colony of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) here last night, and escaped with about Rs 1.50 lakh, 31 tolas of gold ornaments and other valuables, besides the service revolver of the officer.

According to a report, the bandits locked the wife and children of Mr Mohinder Singh in a bathroom before fleeing. Mr Mohinder Singh is posted at Palam Airport in Delhi. He was away when the culprits struck the house. It is stated that the thugs arrived around 10 pm and one of them knocked at the door of the house. Thereupon, Miss Vibha opened the gate of the residence after satisfying herself that the person was her relative. As soon as the gate was opened, all the six bandits entered the house. Four of them were armed with pistols and two others had knives in their hands.

They received the keys of an almirah and succeeded in taking out about Rs 1.50 lakh from it. They also entered another room of the house, from where they took out 31 tolas of gold ornaments and the service revolver of the Custom Officer.

The desperadoes ransacked the house for about half an hour. During the period, they also consumed liquor amid the loud sound of the TV. Thereafter, the culprits locked all the members of the family in a bathroom and fled. Mr Mahinder Singh reached the residence after about half an hour. He was shocked to see that the main gate was open. He also heard the cries of children from the bathroom. He immediately opened the door of the bathroom and the store where his children and wife were locked.

He rang up the police control Room, but failed to get any response. Thereupon, he informed the DSP Headquarters, Mr Hardeep Singh Doon, who arrived immediately. A hunt was launched and nakabandi was organised, but the culprits could not be arrested. A case of dacoity has been registered. This is the second case of dacoity in three days in the area.