Chennai: Armed gang barges into house, flees with Rs 7,000, two mobiles

Chennai: In a house break-in resembling a movie, a five-member armed gang forced their way into an isolated house in a village in Madurantakam, and escaped with cash and gold before attacking the inmates with lethal weapons on Monday night. The incident took place in Melavalam village in Kancheepuram district.

The robbery happened at the house of Srinivasan (38) in Saranya Avenue in Melavalam village. Srinivasan runs a small grocery shop in the neighbourhood, and lives with wife Jagatha (36), his 70-year-old father, and two children.

On Monday night, Srinivasan and family went to sleep early. Police said, at around 10.45 pm, five masked, armed men burst into the house and threatened them with sharp weapons to part with jewellery and cash. One of the intruders attacked and tied the old man, as Srinivasan tried to alert his neighbours.

Srinivasan's wife Jagatha was also attacked on her right hand when she resisted and refused to give the gold chain she was wearing. The gang ransacked the house and recovered Rs 7,000 in cash and fled the spot with two mobile phones.

Speaking about the incident, Srinivasan said, five masked men with metal poles and knives began smashing the front door of the house on Monday night, and even before I could open the door, the men smashed their way through the door. The robbery was like a movie. I had never imagined this was going to happen to my family, he said.

The intruders wore black t-shirts and were in the age group of 25 years, police said. Madurantakam police registered a case and have launched investigations. Sources said police have found no CCTV footage of the area so far.