Karimnagar house robbery: Armed gang loots 66 tolas gold, ₹21 lakh cash
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
An armed gang of approximately eight masked men broke into a residence in the Bhagat Nagar area of Karimnagar, Telangana, on Tuesday night, looting 66 tolas of gold ornaments, ₹21 lakh in cash, 10 tolas of silver, and two motorcycles after threatening the occupants with knives and revolvers. The victims, a family of senior citizens and women, were physically assaulted, bound, and locked in a single room before the gang fled.
How the Robbery Unfolded
According to police, the intruders struck when the house owner, Azmath Ali, stepped down from the first floor to switch off a light before retiring for the night. The gang overpowered him, taped his mouth, dragged him inside, and assaulted him. They subsequently beat Ali's wife and their two daughters, threatening to kill the family if they raised an alarm.
After tying all the occupants, the robbers systematically looted the premises. Before leaving, they confiscated the family's mobile phones to cut off any possibility of alerting police or neighbours. The gang is suspected to have escaped via the Vemulawada bypass, according to police.
Victims' Account and Investigation
The family told police that all the robbers were masked and conversed among themselves in Hindi with a North Indian accent. Investigators believe the gang had prior knowledge of Ali's daily routine and was aware that gold ornaments and cash were kept in the house — suggesting the operation was premeditated. Police have launched a formal investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area.
Second Major Robbery in Karimnagar in Three Months
This incident is the second significant robbery in Karimnagar in under three months. On 3 May, a gang carried out a daylight heist at PMJ Jewellery, opening fire and injuring four employees before decamping with 161 tolas of gold jewellery and 112-carat diamonds.
A subsequent investigation into the May robbery revealed the involvement of the Subodh Singh gang, a notorious criminal network from Bihar. According to police, Subodh Singh reportedly masterminded the jewellery shop heist from inside Purnea jail, where he was lodged at the time. Several members of the gang were arrested following that probe.
A Gang With a Pan-India Footprint
The Subodh Singh gang is reportedly linked to robberies across Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand, and is known for executing crimes in a calculated and professional manner. Police have not yet confirmed whether the same network is behind Tuesday's house robbery, but the modus operandi — a coordinated, multi-member team with apparent prior intelligence — has drawn comparisons. The investigation remains ongoing.