Woman killed as ‘kala kachha’ gang strikes in Hoshiarpur village

DECEASED AKKI DEVI, 70, A RESIDENT OF JALANDHAR, HAD COME TO THE VILLAGE ON MONDAY TO ATTEND THE WEDDING OF HER NEPHEW’S SON

HOSHIARPUR: As many as three to four robbers, suspected to be members of the ‘kala kachha’ gang, allegedly struck at a house at Brahmjit village during the wee hours of Tuesday, killing an elderly woman and injuring five other members of the family.

The deceased, Akki Devi, 70, a resident of Jalandhar, had come to the village on Monday to attend the wedding of her nephew’s son, who stayed in an adjacent house, said her son Vijay Kumar.

The police said the robbers, who had covered their faces with a black cloth, entered one Om Lal’s house around 2 am by scaling the outer wall of the house.

The robbers attacked the owner of the house and his wife Kamlesh, who were sleeping in the open, with wooden rods and a sharp-edged weapon.

Then they barged into a room and assaulted the owner’s sons, Chetan Kumar, Chander Deep and Ankush and mother Gian Kaur and a relative Akki Devi.

Chetan Kumar caught hold one of the accused, but he managed to flee with his accomplices. All the injured were taken to the civil hospital where Devi, who was seriously injured, was declared brought dead.

The police said the criminals could be much higher in number.

“Generally, the gang splits up before an operation. Some of the members keep watch to alert their accomplices,” said deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Sukhwinder Singh. He said the area had been cordoned off to trace the culprits.

“The ‘kala kachha’ gang of robbers usually becomes active in July when fairs are held and pilgrim movement increases, but this time they seemed to have struck early,” he said.

A case under Sections 460 (house-breaking at night causing death and grievous injuries) and 458 (lurking house-trespass after preparing for assault) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC has been registered at the Model Town police station of the district.