At a Republic Day function, the Begusarai police will felicitate three young girls who fought off a gang of 12 robbers who had attacked their house.

Pooja Kumari, Kajal Kumari and Mahima (aged between 16 and 21 years) and their brother Rahul (14) not only foiled the dacoity attempt at their house in Begusarai district, around 130km east of Patna, but also caught one of the goons suspected to be the gang kingpin. The man, identified as Mahesh Mahto, is a resident of neighbouring Samastipur district. Police records show Mahto is wanted in over a dozen cases in Begusarai, Khagaria and Samastipur districts.

The gangsters barged into the house of Madan Poddar, who runs a garments and jewellery shop, on January 12 night. When Madan and his wife, Nirmala, refused to give them the keys to the cupboard, the robbers hit the couple with revolver butts. As blood started oozing from Madan and Nirmala's heads, their children - who were in an adjacent room - rushed to their defence.

"We decided to take on the robbers when we saw them beating up our parents and brother," said Kajal, a Class X student.

As a scuffle broke out and neighbours rushed in to help as Nirmala raised an alarm, the gang fled but the children managed to nab Mahesh with the help of their neighbours. One of the robbers hit Mahima, a Class XII student, on the head with a revolver butt to free his gang-mate.

Begusarai superintendent of police (SP) Manoj Kumar said the gang members shot at a local resident, Jamuna Yadav, while escaping. Yadav still kept fighting and helped the family.

The SP said one of the local residents informed the police. Cheria Bariyarpur police station house officer (SHO) Raghvendra Kumar Singh said a police patrol vehicle was about 3km from the village when the police got the information. "I immediately asked to officer on duty to rush to the spot and help the residents," SHO Singh told The Telegraph.

The police recovered a country-made pistol and live cartridges from Mahesh, who had to be admitted to a local hospital as the residents had thrashed him before handing him over to the police. "His condition is stable," the SHO said.

Mahima said: "I am happy to know about the district police chief's decision (to honour the girls). The move will inspire many to fight such situations. It is a matter of pride for the entire family."

Madan said his daughters had made him proud and it was because of them that the family was safe: "Everyone should have such daughters."