Mumbai:
Four robbers, one of whom had a gun, robbed Rs 50,000 cash from a jewellery store after assaulting an employee with the butt of the gun in broad daylight on Thursday. The employee was downing the shutters of the shop when the robbers walked into the shop under the guise of customers.
The robbery took place at 11.30 am at Mayura Jewellers, which is located at Sector-36 in Kamothe, Navi Mumbai. According to Kalamboli police, the robbers after entering the store pulled down the shutters and started thrashing the employee. The worker who received head injuries is currently undergoing medical treatment at a hospital.
The owner of the shop, Ratanlal Devda, is in his native place Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, and had asked his employee to tend to some unfinished work at the shop in his absence. The employee had completed the work and was about to leave when the incident took place. "The employee, Manohar Singh, was about to close the shop when the robbers entered and started assaulting him. They then took Rs 50,0000 from the cash counter and fled," said T B Mane, police inspector at Kalamboli police station. "Manohar was rushed to a hospital by neighbouring traders. Although he is stable, he has suffered head injuries," added Mane.
Rise in crime
The robbers hopped onto a getaway car, which was waiting outside with a driver. Cops later found the black car abandoned in Rabale, few hours after the robbery. Neighbouring businesses said they were concerned, since the Kamothe- Kalamboli area has been experiencing regular incidents of robbery over the past few months. According to them, Kalamboli police has apparently failed to check the rising incidence of robbery in the area.
Anil Devda, brother of Ratanlal, expressed his disapproval of the lack of security given to traders. "I was informed about the robbery by fellow jewellers. We do not have any enmity with anyone. So these robbers have targeted our store with just the intention of looting it. We are scared as robberies are occurring frequently and traders are being attacked in broad daylight. We should be given enough security or it will be very difficult for us to carry on with our businesses here," said Anil.
A local leader and trader, Shankar Mhatre, claimed that police have failed to curb criminal activities in the area. "There have been many incidents of robbery in our area. Chain snatching incidents are on the rise, and the police can't curb it. Residents and businessmen are terrified that they may be the next targets. We want the police to act quickly in order to stop robberies here," said Mhatre.
Kalamboli police have registered a case against five unknown people, including the driver, under Sections 394, and 34 of the IPC.