Goa doctor's family held hostage in Rs 35 lakh robbery

Mapusa: In a shocking case, a group of five to seven masked dacoits broke into the residence of a doctor in Mapusa’s densely populated Ganeshpuri area early Tuesday morning. The assailants held four family members hostage for over two hours, looted cash and gold worth more than Rs 35 lakh, and fled in the family’s car, which was later found abandoned in Panaji.

The incident occurred between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. at the home of the 49-year-old, Dr Mahendra Kamat Ghanekar. Armed with iron rods and a large knife, the gang entered the house by cutting through a window grill. Disturbingly, the robbers reportedly consumed food from the family’s kitchen and even asked the elderly mother to prepare tea for them during the heist.

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According to police, the intruders were dressed in burqas to conceal their identities and spoke in Hindi, likely with a North Indian dialect. They appeared to be between 35 and 40 years old. The victims were physically assaulted, and one family member was locked in a bathroom to prevent them from raising an alarm. Dr. Ghanekar confirmed that threats were issued, and his family suffered injuries during the ordeal.

The gang initially used their fists to intimidate the family. They looted approximately Rs 8–10 lakh in cash from an elderly woman and took all the gold jewellery worn daily. However, other valuable gold items remained safe, as they were securely stored in a locker. Before fleeing, the robbers seized the victims’ mobile phones, which they later discarded nearby—still switched on.

The police believe the gang operated with a high degree of planning. After taking the valuables, they disconnected and stole the CCTV recorder from the premises, effectively wiping out digital evidence of the crime. They also took the keys to Dr. Ghanekar’s car and used it to flee the scene. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Panaji.

The brazen attack, occurring in a locality where early morning walkers begin their routines before 5 am, triggered a rapid response from law enforcement. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, DGP Alok Kumar, and North Goa SP Rahul Gupta visited the site to assess the situation. Forensic teams, the dog squad, and Mapusa police are continuing the investigation, and a panchnama has been recorded.

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