A teacher couple in Palamu’s Kukahi village experienced a night of sheer terror when approximately 15 dacoits broke into their home on Thursday night, holding them captive for four hours. The assailants, armed with lethal weapons, subjected Mrityunjay Mehta and his wife Anita Devi to brutal beatings and threats as they ransacked their house. The primary targets were cash, gold and silver jewelry, and other valuable possessions, all of which were stolen. Adding insult to injury, the dacoits compelled the couple to prepare and eat a meal within the invaded home before departing in the pre-dawn hours of Friday. The incident began when Mr. Mehta investigated a noise on his roof and was immediately confronted by an armed robber. The criminals’ prolonged occupation of the house, from 11 PM to 3 AM, was marked by continuous demands for money and keys, and ended with explicit threats against the couple’s lives. Villagers came to their aid, securing medical attention for the injured couple. Law enforcement officials arrived promptly and began their investigation, with the sub-divisional police officer personally assessing the situation. The community’s outcry highlights serious concerns about the effectiveness of local security measures, citing the extended period of the dacoity as evidence of a significant breakdown in safety protocols.
