Panchkula jeweller foils robbery

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, September 18

A jewellery shop owner survived an armed robbery attempt in broad daylight here today.

Three robbers, who struck Maa Luxmi Jewellers located at booth number 78 in Sector 8, attacked its owner, Sandeep Verma (45), with a knife. They had to return empty-handed after the victim raised the alarm.

A brave act

“When I managed to escape towards the door, one of the robbers attacked me with a knife. Once I managed to get outside, my screams attracted the attention of bystanders and other shopkeepers. Meanwhile, all three of them fled the scene,” the FIR read, quoting the shop owner.

Verma told the police that he had opened his shop around 10:30 am. Three youngsters arrived there around noon. “One of the them had a countrymade gun in his hand while another was carrying a knife. As soon as they entered the shop, they asked me to keep sitting quietly. As I tried to run outside, they pointed the gun at me and also tried to restrain me with the knife.

“When I managed to escape towards the door, one of them attacked me with a knife. Once I managed to get outside, my screams attracted the attention of bystanders and other shopkeepers. Meanwhile, all three of them fled the scene,” the FIR read, quoting the complainant.

The victim was taken to the Civil Hospital in Sector 6 where he received stitches. Meanwhile, a forensic team also reached the spot to gather evidence. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mohit Handa and other senior police officials also inspected the area. Handa also visited the Civil Hospital to enquire after the victim.

Before him, Haryana Speaker and local MLA Gian Chand Gupta also visited the hospital to know about the Verma’s health. ”A police team has been constituted to crack the case. We will trace the robbers soon,” Handa said while speaking to media persons.

According to the police, they (suspects) had been captured on the CCTV cameras installed in the area. They fled the spot in an auto-rickshaw, the police said, adding that they were trying to identity of the auto driver.

“As they turned up at the shop on foot, there is no clarity if they had come in their own vehicle,” a senior official of the Police Department said.

A case was registered under sections 394 (Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery), 398 (Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with a deadly weapon) and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons.

On July 13, 2014, robbers had struck at Rajat Jewellers in Swastik Vihar, Mansa Devi Complex, Sector 5, in broad daylight.