Ornaments worth Rs 25 lakh looted from jewellery store owner in Hazaribag

Hazaribag: Armed robbers looted gold ornaments and other valuables in broad daylight from the owner of a jewellery showroom near Daily Market under Barkagaon police station limits on Saturday.

Ornaments, whose value is estimated at Rs 22-25 lakh, were looted in the heist which took place around 11:30 am.Eyewitnesses said three criminals arrived on a motorcycle. Around that time, store owner Prabhu Soni was opening his shop and was carrying a bag filled with gold ornaments. The miscreants snatched the bag from his hands and fled.The robbers fired four to five rounds while escaping. One of the bullets hit Sudhir Soni, a local, in his hand.

Sudhir was taken to Barkagaon community health centre, where he received first aid and was later referred to Hazaribag Sadar Hospital for better treatment. Doctors said his condition was out of danger.The heist led to panic and chaos in the area. A team from Barkagaon police rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. Police teams are scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas and conducting raids to identify and arrest the criminals.Barkagaon police station in-charge Krishna Kumar Gupta said, “The criminals fled with jewellery from near the shop. A local youth was injured in the firing. The police are actively conducting raids to arrest the robbers.”