Rajasthan’s rural heartland has been rattled by a daring theft attempt where crooks hoisted a 90-year-old lady—bed and all—to rob her of silver treasures. The outrageous event in Bhilwara’s Kothiya village highlights the perils faced by the elderly amid soaring metal prices.
Late Wednesday, as Chhoti Devi dozed on her veranda cot, masked intruders invaded the home of ex-sarpanch Nathi Devi Mali. Spotting the glint of 1.5 kg silver jewelry on the nonagenarian, they gagged her and lugged the cot to an adjacent farmland, where they trussed her up and vanished.
The gang had cleverly neutralized the family first, bolting room doors from outside to contain any interference. Trapped relatives screamed for help, drawing neighbors who smashed the locks. A search party quickly located Chhoti Devi abandoned and bound, her jewelry miraculously intact due to the rapid rescue.
Police have mobilized teams for raids and suspect local miscreants familiar with the terrain. This follows a grisly jewelry-related killing in Sawai Madhopur, amplifying fears for elderly women in villages who customarily wear heavy silver pieces.
Experts point to silver’s market surge as a catalyst for these targeted crimes. Community leaders are urging installation of CCTV and community watch groups. The case serves as a grim reminder of how economic pressures can unleash savagery on the most vulnerable, prompting calls for state-wide awareness campaigns.
