Dacoits loot Rs 1.80 lakh from retd Armyman's house

Pune, June 29 (UNI) A retired Army officer and his wife were attacked by dacoits who looted gold jewellery and cash of Rs 1.80 lakh from their bungalow in Undri.

Police said that a gang of five yesterday had cut the iron mesh of the compound wall and the iron grill of the windows and entered the house. One of the dacoits opened the front door for the others to enter.

They found Capt Vinod Sharma (61) and his wife Abha (55) sleeping.

When the dacoits started to break open the cupboard, the noise woke the couple. Sharma tried to retaliate but was severely beaten up by sticks and later gagged with cloth.

The dacoits were aged between 20-30 years and spoke in Hindi.

The couple have a married daughter settled in US and a son, a software engineer based in Bangalore.

The couple has been treated at the Command Hosiptal of the Southern Command and was discharged yesterday afternoon. This is the second incident of its kind as a few months ago, retired Lt Col Deshmukh of Rakshak Society in Aundh was beaten severely by dacoits.

UNI DWN MJ SKB1803