Hyderabad: In a shocking daylight robbery at a jewellery shop in Karimnagar, four employees sustained bullet injuries after armed robbers opened fire and fled with 1.6 kg of gold ornaments and 112-carat diamonds valued at crores on Sunday.
Details of the Incident
The CCTV footage of the theft later went viral on social media. Based on a complaint by the staff of PMJ jewellery shop in Jyothi Nagar, police registered a case under Section 309 (robbery) of the BNS and launched a manhunt for the robbers, who remain at large.
Police reported that the robbery occurred around 11 am, an hour after the store opened and staff had brought out the jewellery from the strong room for display. Interestingly, on Saturday night, Karimnagar police had conducted naka-bandi across the city as a precautionary measure.
Eyewitness Account
Kamal, a senior salesman who suffered a bullet wound, recounted: "Initially, one man walked in posing as a customer and enquired about a gold chain. I showed him a few chains, and he asked about the cost and requested a chain weighing 20 grams. Then he asked for a ring. Meanwhile, two other people entered the store."
"Subsequently, two more men approached the store. I stopped them and checked with my superior, who from a distance signalled me to allow them inside, assuming they were also customers. Once all five entered, they pulled out their pistols," Kamal added.
CCTV Footage Reveals Sequence
The store's CCTV footage shows the accused pointing weapons at staff and forcing them to gather in one spot. The men were made to kneel, while women sat on the floor or stood in a corner. Four of the five accused held the staff hostage, while the fifth filled a sack with ornaments.
Staff said this continued for nearly 20 minutes. The recording shows a dramatic turn when the sales manager, with a colleague, tried to confront the robbers but were overpowered. One accused hit a victim with the gun butt, and later fired shots. The robbers fled on two bikes immediately after the firing.
Injuries and Investigation
According to investigators, three staff members suffered injuries to the shoulder, abdomen, and leg. "The fourth had a narrow escape as a bullet brushed against his head. All four are out of danger and undergoing treatment. Special teams have been formed to track down the accused. Forensic teams are also working to gather evidence," said Gaush Alam, Commissioner of Police, Karimnagar.
Union Minister of State for Home and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay visited the store and spoke to staff, who said one accused spoke Telugu while others spoke Hindi. Four faces are clearly captured on camera, but the fifth accused wore a mask, making identification difficult.
"They have been seen heading towards Rajanna-Sircilla district. Registration numbers were not captured clearly on any camera. We have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for leads," a senior Karimnagar police officer told TOI.
