‘Give us the gold’: Vasai woman slashed in brutal knife assault as gang escapes with ₹10 lakh loot

Palghar: The Crime Detection Unit (Unit 2) of the Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police has arrested three members of an interstate gang that carried out a brutal armed robbery and attempted murder at a residence in Vasai, escaping with gold and cash worth ₹10 lakh.

The crime occurred on November 18 at Reliable Glory Building in Sativali, Vasai West, where three masked intruders forced their way into the home of 37-year-old Geeta Raut.

Holding Raut and her son Santosh at knifepoint, the men demanded to know where the family kept their gold.

When Raut denied knowledge, one of the assailants attempted to stab her. She narrowly escaped the fatal blow but sustained a deep cut on her left arm.

The attackers then smashed open a cupboard, grabbed 12 tolas of gold jewellery and a mobile phone, and fled.

Crackdown Begins After FIR at Waliv Police Station

Following the FIR, police teams conducted detailed inspections of the crime scene and surrounding localities. Using technical surveillance and informer inputs, investigators traced the suspects to Nandagaon in Karnataka.

A special team was dispatched, and on November 20, three accused were detained. Police recovered 8 tolas of the stolen gold, cash, and a mobile phone—altogether valued at ₹10 lakh. Interrogation revealed the trio belonged to a six-member interstate gang targeting homes across states.

Three Arrested, Three Still on the Run

The arrested suspects are: Ashok alias Babu Raju Shinde, resident of Shantinagar Dongripada, Vasai East; originally from Nandagaon, Karnataka

Abdul Rauf Hashmi, resident of Richard Compound, Manocha Pada, Vasai East; originally from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh

Ritik Ravi Belangi, resident of Richard Compound; originally from Nandagaon, Karnataka

Police have also identified the three absconding accused:

Nur Hasan Khan of Patil Wadi, Nalasopara East; Suraj Kishor Jadhav of Shantinagar, Nalasopara East; and Kalu Prabhakar Sahu of Kendrapara, Odisha.

The arrested trio has been handed over to the Waliv Police for further legal action under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The search for the remaining gang members is ongoing.