Robbers hit jewellery, drug stores, destroy CCTVs at Sector 7 market

A jewellery store and a chemist shop were robbed in early hours of Wednesday in Sector 7 market, Panchkula. The four robbers were able to abscond with silver-ware worth Rs 25 lakh from Sarao Jewellers and Rs 4,000 in cash from the chemist shop, located next to the jewellery store.

The robbers broke CCTV cameras and glass door of the chemist shop, but were captured on the cameras of a nearby shop. They had come in an Esteem car, which had no registration number plate.

The personal guard of a nearby jewellery store, Tara Chand, was woken up by the commotion and tried to raise an alarm. The robbers allegedly threatened Chand with a rod and then took him with them while absconding. Chand was allegedly taken to Morni Hills and was left in the jungle.

However, as per Chand's statement to the police, the four unidentified persons came to his shop first, abducted him, left him at Morni Hills and then robbed the shops. But the CCTV footage reveals the opposite. As per the footage, Tara Chand hid under his blanket after the four threatened him.

Meanwhile, the Panchkula Police got to know about the robbery when a couple returning from a marriage function passed by the market area at 1.43 am. The couple saw four people with their faces covered, who were allegedly trying to break the locks of Sarao Jewelers. By the time a PCR vehicle reached the spot,the robbers had absconded and abducted a guard.

The Station House Officer of sector 7 police station said: "As per CCTV footage that we have seen, as the four people were committing the crime, Tara Chand, a personal guard of another nearby jewellery shop who was sleeping outside woke up. The four allegedly threatened Tara Chand with a rod but did not hit him. Since Tara Chand was alarmed, the four people left the place taking along Tara Chand."

Rajesh Kumar, owner of the jewellery store who had hired Tara Chand for the safety of his shop, said: "In 2011, there was an attempt to rob my store. Since then I have hired a personal security guard."

Deep Krishan Chauhan, president of the jeweller association whose shop is in the next block said: "Some days back, a suspicious woman had come to my shop with two young men. She had asked for a silver anklet and left the store in a few minutes. One of the men in the CCTV footage of the shop looked familiar. His hair and physique are the same."

No arrests have been made yet as the robbers had covered their faces with handkerchief.

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