Miscreants claiming to be police officers broke into the home of an elderly couple in Uchlaguda village under Dashamantapur Panchayat in Baipariguda block late last night, assaulted them, and looted gold jewellery along with cash before escaping on a motorcycle.
According to the FIR filed by the victims at Baipariguda police station, the incident occurred around midnight. The accused arrived at the residence of Somanath Khil and his wife Baidi Khil, identified themselves as police, and alleged that ganja (cannabis) was hidden inside the house. They demanded that the door be opened. When the couple refused, the men forced their way in by breaking the door.
Once inside, the attackers first struck Baidi Khil on the head with a wooden stick made from Nilgiri wood. They then assaulted both husband and wife, leaving them terrified. The robbers snatched roughly half a tola of gold jewellery from Baidi’s nose and took ₹10,800 in cash kept in the house before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle.
The incident has spread fear among villagers in the area. Residents are demanding that police quickly identify the culprits, recover the stolen items, and ensure such impersonation cases are prevented. Baipariguda police have registered the case and begun an investigation.
This robbery highlights growing concerns over criminals exploiting the fear of police checks in rural Odisha, particularly by targeting vulnerable elderly residents at night.
