Adopted minor son behind robbery at doctor's residence

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Sept 4: In what sent shockwaves across the city, investigations have revealed that a teege boy masterminded a chilling robbery at the residence of a doctor who had adopted him when he was one and half years of age.

The robbery had taken place at the Ajanta Path residence of Dr Biraj Goswami and Dr Tulika Goswami on the evening of August 31.

The adopted son of Goswami, Mav (me changed), planned the robbery along with an employee of the pool club located atop Pantaloons. Mav is a regular visitor to the pool club.

"The incident suggests that an insider was involved. Mav and the pool club employee Rahul Sarma plotted the robbery. Rahul roped in seven other persons – all teege boys to execute the crime. Some are students, some drop-outs, one a garage employee," said police commissioner Mukesh Agarwal.

The other accomplices were picked up during simultaneous raids near AG Office, Survey, Super Market, Rupgar, Hengerabari, Sorumotoria and Birubari.

One of the accused used his father's Alto vehicle – which bears an assembly pass – to go to Goswami's residence on the day of the crime.

Mav is a Class XI student of a private city college.

When the robbery took place, Mav was at his residence with a maid. The accused tied up both the maid and Mav before looting cash and valuables from the house.

Dr Goswami had kept a considerable amount of cash at his residence on that date, which he said was brought for some urgent work. Apparently, that is why Mav chose that day for the crime. The accused had broken into the house at around 6 pm in the evening.

Mav had also made a call to his father at around 7 pm on the day asking him to get burgers. This was apparently done to keep Dr Goswami away for more time to facilitate the others to decamp.

Till yesterday, police were clueless about the crime. However, yesterday the Hatigaon police station officer in charge Pradip Bora spent nearly six hours with Mav at his residence to examine the activities of the boy. "We observed him …played with him, discussed many things…I can't elaborate much, but we maged to get enough indications of his involvement," the OC said.

Police have recovered Rs 2.63 lakh from the nine accused, including Rs 18,500 from Mav. Mav had concealed the looted valuables at his house.

According to his birth certificate, Mav is 17 years, eleven months and 17 days, making him a juvenile. He will be tried under the Juvenile Act. Eight others have been taken into two days' police custody.

Police were not sure why Mav became "impatient" for money to take the step, but sources said he was earlier caught by Dr Goswami and his wife while stealing money at the house.

Police say some of the accused might be involved in petty crimes in the past.