Ludhiana: In the city of Ludhiana, robbers are no longer merely picking pockets; instead, they are directly emptying bank accounts at gunpoint. The latest incident occurred in the jurisdiction of the Daresi police station, where seven passengers travelling in an auto-rickshaw were left gasping in terror when the driver and his accomplices held them hostage, threatening them with death.
This incident took place on the morning of May 16, around 4:45 AM. Dilip Kumar Maurya, an employee of a reputed company in Greater Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar), had come to Ludhiana to visit his sister. Upon alighting at the station, he boarded an auto-rickshaw to reach his destination. Several other passengers were already seated inside the vehicle.
Suddenly, two of the auto driver’s accomplices revealed their true colours. They abruptly brandished a sharp-edged weapon (a ‘datar’) and pointed it at all seven passengers seated in the auto. The sight of the weapon triggered panic and screams inside the vehicle, but the robbers silenced everyone by instilling the fear of death.
A ‘High-Tech’ Robbery at Gunpoint
The robbers first snatched cash and valuables from the other passengers. Their attention then turned to Dilip, who had arrived from Greater Noida. They lunged at him and snatched away his mobile phone.
What followed demonstrated the new, “high-tech” modus operandi employed by modern-day robbers. Holding the weapon against his neck, the robbers intimidated Dilip and forcibly compelled him to transfer a total of ₹58,300 from his phone—executed through four separate transactions into a bank account belonging to a man named Gagan Peer.
Accused Escape After Robbery
After emptying the bank account and looting the passengers, these brazen criminals shoved Dilip out of the auto-rickshaw near the Bombay Tyre area in Basti Jodhewal and, taking advantage of the darkness, fled the scene.
Police Begin Investigation
Following this sensational crime, the victim has lodged a formal complaint at the Daresi police station. The police have registered an FIR under Section 304-3(5) of the BNS against Gagan Peer (a resident of Ludhiana) and two unidentified miscreants. ASI Harpal Singh is investigating this case.