Members of Katkar, Kamble and Dhore families were fast asleep after performing the Lakshmipooja and Diwali revelry when their houses were raided by seven unidentified men. The intruders escaped with all the cash and ornaments kept for pooja after thrashing up the three families. They were worth was Rs 10,000.

The men broke the door of Mahadeo Katkar's house on the Fish Breeding Farm at Manjari with an iron rod shortly after midnight.

Mahadeo Katkar and wife Jayashri were beaten up when they tried to resist. Breeding farm watchman Madhukar Sonba Supekar, who rushed to help the couple, was also beaten up. The dacoits locked them up in the house.

Alarmed by Katkar's screams, neighbour Madhukar Ramchandra Kamble locked the doors of his house from inside. The dacoits broke open the doors of his house but did not enter it as some policemen patrolling the area rushed to the spot responding to the cries for help.

Deputy commissioner of police (zone II) Jagan Nath, who was patrolling in the areas, also reached the spot shortly after the dacoits fled.

All combing of the area failed to trace the assaulters. The three injured were shifted to the Sassoon hospital by the police. They were discharged after first aid.

In another incident, seven men struck at the residence of Maruti Govind Dhore in Mahadeo Nagar of Loni Kalbhor. They opened the bolt on the door of the house through an open ventilator. Maruti Dhore and Shakuntala were beaten up when they protested. The intruders decamped with all the cash and ornaments kept for Lakshmipooja. Their value was estimated at Rs 17,000.