In Beed district, a disturbing incident has once again shown how risky highway travel at night can be. A trader from Ambajogai fell victim to a well-planned robbery when he briefly stopped his car near Ankur Phata. Four unidentified assailants, who were allegedly waiting for an opportunity, threatened him with a knife and fled with valuables worth ₹4.10 lakh. The incident has triggered fear among locals and regular highway commuters. The victim has been identified as Shriram Satish Dhage (32), a businessman from Ambajogai, who was travelling by car late Thursday night via the Lohandi Savargaon route toward Dhanora Khurd.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11 pm when Dhage halted his car near Ankur Phata to relieve himself. As soon as he stepped out, four men aged between 25 and 30 surrounded him from different directions. Holding him at knifepoint, the robbers forcibly snatched valuables, leaving him helpless and shocked. The stolen items included a 17-gram gold locket worn around his neck, three gold rings weighing a total of 20 grams, a laptop, and ₹15,000 in cash. After committing the crime, the assailants escaped from the spot, taking advantage of the darkness and deserted stretch of the highway.
Upon receiving information about the robbery, Yusuf Wadgaon police swung into action and launched an intensive investigation. Under the guidance of Assistant Police Inspector Machindra Shendge, a dog squad, fingerprint experts, and a forensic team rushed to the scene and collected crucial evidence. The Local Crime Branch has also joined the probe to trace the suspects. Police officials said multiple leads are being examined and expressed confidence that the accused will be arrested soon, assuring strict action against those responsible for the crime.