In a brazen daylight crime, four armed men impersonating Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers looted cash and jewellery worth lakhs from a trader's residence in Bulandshahr district on Friday morning. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Pokhar locality of Anupshahr.
The Deceptive Entry and Hostage Situation
The target was the home of Shankar Bhagwan Agarwal (51), a construction material trader. The ordeal began when two men knocked on his door around Friday morning, claiming to be CBI officials there to serve a notice. Agarwal's wife, Sadhna Devi, initially received them.
"By the time I came out of my room, they were already inside. Soon, two others entered and overpowered us," recounted Agarwal. The family, which included his wife, daughter-in-law Kanika, and two minor children, was held at gunpoint. The robbers threatened them with weapons and began ransacking the house.
Psychological Terror and Theft
The gang employed severe psychological tactics to paralyze the family with fear. They falsely claimed that Agarwal's 25-year-old son, Abhishek—who had left for his shop at 8:30 am—was in their custody. They warned that he would be shot if the family resisted.
In a particularly chilling act, they picked up Abhishek's young child and threatened to kill the toddler. The assailants then forced open cupboards and systematically collected valuables from different rooms.
According to Bulandshahr SSP Dinesh Kumar Singh, the gang made off with approximately Rs 5 lakh in cash and a significant amount of gold and silver jewellery.
Panicked Escape and Police Response
The robbers' plan began to unravel about 30 minutes into the crime when the family's domestic help arrived and knocked on the door. Getting no response, she alerted Agarwal's brother, Rajkumar, who lives next door.
As knocking intensified from both sides, the impostors panicked. They opened the main door and fled the scene. Initial surveillance footage shows the four suspects escaping on a motorcycle.
Upon receiving information, CO Vikas Pratap Singh and Kotwali in-charge Dharmendra Kumar Sharma reached the spot. SSP Singh confirmed that multiple police teams have been deployed to track down the criminals based on the available footage and descriptions.
The audacious heist, carried out in the guise of central agency officials, has raised serious concerns about the safety of residents and the boldness of criminal elements in the region. The investigation is ongoing.
