Hyderabad, May 13 : Even as Hyderabad Police were still looking for a breakthrough in the last weekâ??s sensational murder of former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan Rayâ??s wife at their residence by their Nepali maid and her associates, another Nepali gang struck in the city by targeting an elderly couple and escaping with 70 tolas of gold and other valuables.

A Nepali couple along with their associates committed the robbery at a house at Golf Enclave, Kowkur under the limits of Jawaharnagar Police Station of Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate, police said on Wednesday.

They tied up N. Murali Mohan, a retired professor and his wife K. Vijaya Lakshmi, a doctor, in a room and drugged them. The gang escaped with gold, 20 kg silver, Rs.30,000 cash and other valuables.

The crime was committed on the night of May 11 but came to light on Tuesday afternoon after the couple raised an alarm after gaining consciousness. Some workers nearby heard their cries for help, rescued them and alerted the police.

According to police, the family had hired a Nepali couple as domestic servants about 20 days ago. As they had gained the trust of their employers, on Monday they sought permission to celebrate a birthday in the house and invited about six outsiders to the party.

The gang destroyed CCTV cameras in the premises and also damaged the hard disks. They tied up Murali Mohan and his wife Vijaya Lakshmi, a physician, in a room. The couple pleaded with the gang not to harm them and take whatever they wanted.

The robber drugged them before decamping with the jewellery, cash and other valuables.

Malkajgiri Police Commissioner Sumati said six special teams have been formed to arrest the gang.

Police were questioning a woman, who had brought the Nepali couple for work. Preliminary investigation by the police indicate that the accused may have fled to Delhi and from there to Nepal.

The robbery occurred even as Hyderabad police were continuing investigation into the gruesome murder of Tanuja Ranjan, wife of retired IPS officer Vinay Ranjan Ray.

A Nepali woman, working as maid in their house in posh Jubilee Hills, along with her two associates killed Tanuja on the night of May 7. The assailants escaped with jewellery and other valuables.

Police have formed 10 teams to arrest the gang. The suspects were reported to be hiding in Pune. Police were still trying for a breakthrough in the case.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner, V.C. Sajjanar, has already appealed to citizens not to hire Nepalis as domestic workers as Nepali gangs were found involved in similar crimes in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru.

/IANS