A gang of criminals robbed cash and gold from a trader’s house in North Dinajpur on Thursday night.

A police team visited the spot and started a probe. No one has been arrested so far.

Sources said that Mir Mostaq, a wholesale trader who deals in paddy and a resident of Dipnagar village of Panishala area on the outskirts of Raiganj, was sleeping with his wife and son when around midnight, 10 to 15 men barged into his house.

“Some of them overpowered me and started beating me while others held my wife and children at gunpoint. They demanded money and other valuables. We were forced to hand over Rs 1 lakh in cash and around 25 grams of gold (worth around Rs 1.25 lakh). They then left the spot,” said Mostaq.

Mir Kamal Ali, his brother, said they suspected local goons.

Over the past few months, the number of drug abusers and drunks has increased in their locality, he said.

“A few days back, I protested against their nuisance. That is why they might have attacked my brother’s family as revenge,” said Ali.

On Thursday morning, a number of elected panchayat representatives and local residents visited Mostaq’s house.

A team from Raiganj police station also visited the village and the site of the robbery.

Official assaulted

An official of the state agricultural department was beaten up in South Dinajpur on Friday afternoon after he allegedly demanded money from a fertiliser trader.

Sources said Arup Chatterjee, a director in the department posted in the district, reached the shop in Moktarpara of Balurghat town.

“Chatterjee was intoxicated and demanded money from Dipak Kumar Laha, who runs the shop. As the latter refused to pay, Chatterjee slapped Dipak Laha's son Dipayan,” alleged a resident.

Laha and others present became angry. Beating Chatterjee up, they then informed the police. A team reached the spot from Balurghat police station and took Chatterjee away.

The official, however, denied the charge that he asked for money from the trader.

“I had information that certain malpractices were going on at the shop (of Laha's). As I went to inquire, I was assaulted. They have also snatched away my cell phone,” Chatterjee said.