Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 18: A gang of three masked men entered a house located in a secluded place near Barkur on the night of Wednesday, July 16 and decamped with cash amounting to Rs 7,500 and 10 sovereigns of gold ornaments.

Seetharam Bhat (85) and his wife Saraswati Amma (79) were about to have their dinner at about 8.15 pm  when the robbers entered their house. In a scuffle that ensued, both of them were injured. Saraswati Amma, who was injured when the robbers snatched gold chain from her neck, is being treated in a private hospital of Brahmavar. Seetharam Bhat, injured by one of the robbers when a knife was flashed at him, has been discharged after being administered first aid.

Children of the elderly couple are settled elsewhere and the couple live alone. The robbers even snatched away one of the silver plates by throwing away the food which they were about to consume. The masked men were speaking in Kannada and hence the couple believe that one or more of them were localites.

The sniffer dogs pressed into service hit the trail of the robbers and stopped in front of a house located about 500 metres from the home of the couple. Police investigation is being conducted based on this lead. Locals opined that the haphazard way in which the robbery was conducted, makes one to believe that the robbers were not professionals.  It is said that the policemen have taken one person into custody for interrogation.