Dacoits strike at will, cops grope in darkMaking a complete mockery of a massive combing exercise involving a huge posse of policemen, some dacoits struck at five separate places along the four-km road linking Wagholi village with Lohegaon on Tuesday night.The unidentified men gave electric shocks to two labourers while the police led by Commissioner K K Kashyap, two deputy commissioners, two assistant commissioners and two inspectors tried hard to track them down. Six persons were seriously injured in these dacoities. The collective worth of stolen booty, which included cash and gold and silver ornaments, is estimated at Rs 28,000.Around 11.30 p.m., the men armed with swords, axes, knives and iron rods stormed the residence of Bhagvat Nivrutti Sarade at Desai farm. Bhagvat Sarade (32) and his wife Sindhubai (25) handed over the cash of Rs 4,000 and jewellery. Sarade alleged that they snapped the cable of an iron box and gave him and his wife electric shocks during their 20-minute stay.Later, the unidentified men struck at the nearby Landge Vasti hamlet and pelted stones at the residence of Vishnu Landge. A fierce fight ensued as all the residents hit back making the dacoits retreat. Around 1 a.m., after a tip-off the police carried out a naka bandi. Kashyap and other officials combed the area. Unperturbed, the dacoits struck at the residence of Sumanbai Hanumantrao Babladi (35) near Talera Farm.They attacked Sumanbai with axes and iron rods immediately after breaking open the door. Sumanbai's ten-year-old son Bhimsen was also attacked when he went to his mother's rescue. The dacoits fled after snatching Sumanbai's mangalsutra. They next targetted Bibhishan Baliram Lawand's house and robbed cash and jewellery worth over Rs 18,000 after attacking them with axes. At Kharadi, the residents resisted and the dacoits ran toward the Mula Mutha when the residents charged at them.
