Brave Shop Owners Foil Armed Robbery Attempt in Kutch Jewellery Store
In a dramatic incident in Mundra town of Gujarat's Kutch district, a daring attempt by four gun-wielding robbers to loot a jewellery store was successfully thwarted on Monday. The courageous resistance by the shop owners led to one of the accused being injured and subsequently arrested, while his three accomplices managed to flee the scene. Police have launched an intensive manhunt to apprehend the remaining suspects.
Details of the Robbery Attempt and Arrest
The incident unfolded at Rudraksh Jewellers, owned by Rajendra Hargovind Patadiya, around 1:45 PM on Monday. According to the FIR filed at Mundra police station, Patadiya and his son Vishal were present in the shop when a man entered, pretending to inquire about purchasing a 1-gram gold chain. Moments later, three other men, with handkerchiefs covering their faces, stormed into the premises. Two of them brandished guns, pointing them at the father-son duo, while the others began hastily filling a bag with gold ornaments.
In a bold move, Rajendra Patadiya pushed the assailant pointing the gun at him, and his son Vishal followed suit, confronting the other two robbers. This confrontation forced the shop owners and the robbers out of the store. During the chaos, one of the accused fired his weapon multiple times into the air outside the shop, causing panic and alerting nearby residents.
Heroic Tackle Leads to Arrest and Injuries
As people began gathering at the scene, two of the accused fled, leaving behind one robber who was still inside the shop, filling the bag with jewellery. When this accused, later identified as Pankaj Sharma, emerged with the loot, Vishal Patadiya tackled him. The impact sent both men crashing through the front glass panel of the shop, resulting in injuries to both Vishal and Sharma. Other local shopkeepers quickly intervened, apprehending Sharma and later handing him over to the police.
Pankaj Sharma has been admitted to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. The police have booked Sharma and the three other accused under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for offences including voluntarily causing hurt while attempting armed robbery, attempt to commit armed robbery while holding a deadly weapon, and house trespass prepared for causing hurt. Additionally, charges under the Arms Act and the Gujarat Police Act have been invoked.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
Speaking to the media, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gautam Vivekanandan of the Mundra Division of Kutch (West) Police provided an update on the case. "While one person was arrested on the spot, the other three accused managed to escape. We are actively trying to trace them by reviewing CCTV footage and have deployed multiple teams to apprehend them," he stated. The police are intensifying their efforts to capture the fugitives and ensure justice is served.
This incident highlights the risks faced by business owners and the importance of community vigilance in combating crime. The bravery displayed by the Patadiya family has been commended, serving as a reminder of the resilience needed in such situations.
