KNIFEPOINT TERROR
Masked men robbed, assaulted businessman Krishan Vilash at 3am last Friday, then left him tied up for six hours
Aknife was put on Krishan Vilash’s neck and he was forced to reveal the passwords to his electronic devices by three masked men.
Then the elderly businessman was tied, gagged and left in that state for six hours. He was woken by the three men at his home and office in Ackland Street in Vatuwaqa, Suva last Friday. The owner of Broadway Mufflers has his home situated on top of his workshop and office.
Mr Vilash was rudely woken at 3am to find three masked men standing over him. “They got me up and asked ‘ paisa’ (money), gold. Tell us” he recalled.
Mr Vilash pointed them towards his prayer stand where he kept his money. It was close to $2000 as he had not done his Friday banking.
“They got the money, then they tied my feet with fishing lines. They then extended the line from my feet to tie my hand, so I could not move,” he said.
“They then put tape on top of the fishing line. Then they gagged me by tying a towel across my mouth. Breathing was not easy.” Mr Vilash was bound and made to sit on the floor. He was also assaulted.
He said the men then ransacked the house. He said they took groceries, fruits, a carton of ghee, an iPhone and tablets.
“When they found the tablet, they put a cane knife on the back of the neck and told me to give them the passwords to all the electronic devices,” he said.
The men left Mr Vilash and made their escape.
Rajeshni Mala’s account
Rajeshni Mala, 35, opened the office at 7am as usual. She found the office downstairs in a mess as it had been ransacked.
She then went to the back of the workshop and also found it had also been ransacked. The usual 7.15am call from Mr Vilash’s home upstairs was also not received.
In a state of panic, Ms Mala called the Police. Fifteen minutes had passed and the Police had not come. She was also scared to go and check upstairs so she decided to walk to the Police post on Fletcher Road.
“As I was making my way to the Police post, a Police vehicle was passing by. I flagged it down and asked them if they were coming to attend to my report which I made on the phone,” she said.
“The Police officers indicated that they were not aware of her report.”
Ms Mala said the Police officers took her to Vatuwaqa Police Post to file a report and then brought her back to the office.
“When we reached the office we could hear Mr Vilash shouting for help,” Ms Mala said. After almost six hours, Mr Vilash had somehow managed to remove the cloth that was tied across his face and nose.
“I went upstairs with a Police officer. We saw boss (Mr Vilash) was tied down. I asked if I could untie him, the officer said no, wait,” Ms Mala said.
“He returned after five minutes with more Police officers and then untied boss.”
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said investigations were continuing.