Six assailants hold goldsmith at knifepoint, flee with Rs 5 lakh

Preliminary investigation suggests that the men were aware of the bag of money inside the workshop. Some residents told police that three members of the group were loitering in the market a day before the incident

Three men brandishing knives walked into a gold workshop in Karol Bagh, Central Delhi, held the goldsmith at knifepoint and fled with Rs 5 lakh in the afternoon on Monday. This, as three accomplices waited downstairs to keep a watch.

Police said the daylight dacoity was reported from a workshop in Gali 9, Raigerpura, and two of the men carried a knife each.

Gold was melted and shaped at the workshop.

"Of the six, two men were wearing masks and all of them were armed. Of the three accused who went upstairs, one stayed outside to guard the door. The dacoits chose the afternoon time, as they knew that the labourers would be out for lunch," Narayan Giri, owner of another jewellery shop, said.

Goldsmith Manoj was held at gunpoint and threatened against shouting for help.

"Later, they left the shop with the money and signaled the three persons standing downstairs to clear passage for them. Manoj shouted for help and alerted the crowd. Since it's a congested lane, the crowd gathered and tried to catch one of the assailants. One of the dacoits assaulted a person in the crowd. They threatened the crowd with their knives and gun and managed to escape," Giri said.

Pointing out that a police post is a few metres away from the spot, Giri said: "Police could not reach the spot on time. There should be proper security as the market is full of jewellery shops and gold workshops."

Police came to the spot after a PCR call was made. Statement of the victim and other shopowners were recorded.

... contd.

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