Sambalpur: Eight robbers allegedly entered the house of a rice mill owner in Babubandha village late on Monday night and looted Rs 1 lakh cash and gold weighing around 200 grams after holding the owner and his elderly parents hostage.
The incident was reported from Burla Police station limits. Following a complaint lodged by rice mill owner M Rakesh (26) police have launched an investigation.A police team and dog squad visited the house. Sources said the house is equipped with CCTV cameras.
To cover their identities, the robbers had put on masks and wore gloves. Police examined the CCTV footage in the house and the surroundings of Babubandha village.
According to the police, the robbers entered the house by climbing the boundary wall and left through the agricultural field. They held family members hostage during the robbery. No injuries were reported.
Haresh Panday, additional superintendent of police (Sambalpur), said, “We are investigating the incident as per the information given by the family. They wore masks and had gloves on their hands. CCTV footages from nearby areas and the house are being examined. The footage at home is not that clear. As per the family, 20 bhari (1 bhari is equivalent to 10 grams) of gold and Rs 1 lakh cash have been looted.”
Following the robbery, members of Sambalpur Rice Millers’ Association visited the district SP’s office with a letter informing about the robbery cases that have taken place in the last four months in houses and offices of rice mill owners. As per the letter, 13 cases of robbery have taken place, including the one at Babubandha.
Five cases have been reported alone under Burla police station limits in June and July, two each under Rengali, Sasan and Sadar police station areas and one each in Katarbaga and Jujomura.

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