The locals said they tried to contact the Area Police Office (APO) of Golbazaar, which is on the east-west highway, over phone many times when the dacoits were robbing them of their belongings but no one responded to their calls. [break]They also said a police van that came to their village did not stop even after it was informed about the ongoing robbery. The locals also claimed that the dacoits were fearless as they were backed by some police officers.
The locals cleared the highway only after DSP Ramesh Tamang assured them that the police would identify and arrest all dacoits involved in the Kasaha robbery. He pacified the locals´ anger by clarifying that the Golbazaar APO´s phone was not working and on-duty policemen did not hear the phone ring.
In the wee hours on Thursday, a group of around 30 dacoits, armed with pistols, axes and knives, had kept Kasaha village under their control for two hours. They looted nine houses and severely thrashed at least three people who tried to retaliate.
The locals say the dacoits looted cash, jewelries and properties worth about Rs 3 million from nine houses in Kasaha village. Houses of Ramdev Sah, Rajkumar Yadav, Rajendra Yadav, Ramjulum Yadav, Jugeshwor Yadav, Chandeshwor Mahato, Raghubir Mahato, Mishri Mahato and Mahendra Mahato were looted by the dacoits.
At first, the dacoits stormed into Rajendra Yadav´s house and snatched away jewelries of her mother Devaki. "When I tried to save my jewelries, they hit my right with an axe," said Devaki. Then, the dacoits attacked Rajendra and his wife Shova. They also threatened to rape Shobha if she cried for help. "Immediately after entering into our room, they ran batons on my husband," said Shobha. "As I tried to protect her, they also beat me up."
Apart from Rajendra, Radhakrishna Yadav and Chandeshwor Yadav have also been critically injured in the attack. They are now undergoing treatment at Nuro Hospital, Biratnagar, according to the Siraha police.
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