Raipur: Nearly a week after a jeweller was shot dead in broad daylight at a crowded weekly market in Chhattisgarh’s Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district, police have cracked the murder-and-loot case, revealing a meticulously planned robbery allegedly orchestrated by a local man who recruited shooters from Bihar and Jharkhand to carry out the killing. Three suspects, including the alleged mastermind, have been arrested, while the primary shooters remain at large.
Police Breakthrough in Murder Investigation
Bilaspur range Inspector General Ram Gopal Garg stated that the accused had spent days surveilling jewellery traders visiting the Kotmikala weekly market before executing the robbery on May 26. The victim, jewellery trader Pradeep Soni, was preparing to leave the bustling haat market around 7 pm when armed men attempted to snatch a bag containing gold and silver ornaments. When Soni resisted, one of the attackers shot him at point-blank range in the chest before fleeing with the jewellery-filled bag on a motorcycle.
Outrage and Demands for CBI Probe
The murder, occurring in the middle of a busy rural market, sparked widespread outrage across the region. Traders shut their shops in protest, and the victim’s family later demanded a CBI investigation into the case. Police investigations revealed that the conspiracy was allegedly hatched by Khushiram Sahu of Bitkula village in Bilaspur district, along with his nephew Rajaram Sahu. The duo reportedly contacted a man identified as Rahul, who brought in hired shooters from Bihar and Jharkhand for the robbery.
Planning and Execution
On May 23, the group allegedly assembled at Bitkula village to finalize the plan. On the day of the murder, they reached Deorikhurd and closely monitored Soni’s movements before carrying out the attack. Investigators said the accused later gathered at the house of one Gaya Prasad Rajak in Deorikhurd, where they divided the looted ornaments among themselves. Police added that packaging materials and other evidence linked to the robbery were later burned on a nearby hillock to destroy traces of the crime.
Arrests and Seizures
Police have so far arrested Khushiram Sahu, Rajaram Sahu, and Gaya Prasad Rajak. A country-made pistol used in the crime, two live cartridges, part of the looted jewellery, and three mobile phones have been seized from the accused. However, the alleged shooters — identified as Rahul, Sanjay, and Raju — are still on the run. Police teams have been dispatched to multiple states to trace them.
Law and Order Concerns
The murder had escalated into a major law-and-order issue after the victim’s family accused police of failing to crack the case even six days after the killing. Led by Chhattisgarh Janta Congress leader Amit Jogi, family members had earlier met district officials demanding a high-level CBI inquiry. IG Garg said a reward of Rs 30,000 had been announced earlier for information leading to the arrest of the accused.
