Dacoits loot Rs 1m from 22 houses

Sarlahi, October 16:

Armed dacoits looted property worth around Rs 1 million from 22 houses at Kaudena VDC in Sarlahi last night. Three locals — Bhantung Shah, 30, Jaynandan Chaudhari, 35, and Upendra Shah Sonar, 38 — were injured when the dacoits beat them up, said Rajan Nandan Prasad Chaudhari, outgoing cha-irman of Kaudena VDC.

The three are undergoing treatment at a local heath post and their condition is reported to be stable, said Chaudhari, quoting health post sources.

The dacoits made off with valuables worth Rs 70,000 from the house of Dinesh Shah, Rs 42,000 in cash from the house of Jay Nandan Chaudhari, Rs 153,000 in cash from Gauri Shankar Chaudhari’s house, among other locals’ houses. “They were forced to hand over their valuables after the dacoits threatened to kill their children,” said a victim Gauri Shankar Chaudhari.

“Police came on time. The dacoits, however, fled to the Lakhandehi river when police opened fire,” said victim Jay Nanda. “It was difficult to arrest the dacoits as the locals also swarmed out into the open when we reached the spot,” police said.

Meanwhile a report from Siraha said dacoits looted property worth Rs 2.5 lakh from five houses at Harkatti VDC- 3 last night. Some 20 dacoits looted cash Rs 1,30,000 from the house of Sitauri Mahato, gold and silver worth Rs 50,000 from the house of Satrughan Mahato, cash Rs 11,000 from the house of Ram Bahadur Mahato, property worth Rs 75,000 from the houses of Shyam Sundar and Udaya Chandra Mahato.