JAIPUR: In yet another highway robbery, four employees of a private company on their way to Jaipur from Delhi were tied up and robbed of their cash by a few robbers who chased their taxi and shot at the driver on National Highway - 8 near Shahpura late on Wednesday. A bullet brushed the driver's hand. The robbers took the victims hostage and drove the car off the highway and escaped after tying them up. The driver was admitted to SMS Hospital.

According to the police, the incident took place at 10 pm on Wednesday. "The four victims belong to Chennai. They are employees of a company which manufactures earth moving machines. They had come to Delhi on a business trip and hired a taxi for Jaipur where they were planning to stay a few days," said a police officer.

Near Khatolia flyover on NH-8, a car started chasing their taxi. "Suspecting that the taxi was being chased by criminals, the taxi driver Jitendra tried to speed away. However, the robbers fired at them. One of the bullets hit the taxi's window and brushed the driver's hand. They then intercepted the taxi forcing them to stop," said the officer.

The officer added that there were four robbers in the car. One of the robbers forced the driver to sit in the rear seat while another pointed the gun at the employees. They then drove the taxi off the highway and after nearly 400 meters from the highway, they beat the victims and tied them with a rope.

"They took away nearly Rs 25,000, a camera, an iPhone, their clothes and luggage. The victims somehow managed to get themselves freed with each other's help and reached a nearby dhaba. The police were informed around 11.30 pm following which a team from Shahpura police station rushed to the spot," said the officer.

The officer added that the robbers had not covered their faces. Besides, they are some other clues which the police are trying to work out.

The increasing incidents of highway robbery, especially on NH-8 and Jaipur-Agra National Highway have put the police in a tight spot. In a recent meeting held at the police headquarters, DGP Omendra Bhardwaj expressed worry over these incidents and instructed the officials to identify gangs involved in highway robberies and dismantle them.

