Patna, Aug 15 (IANS) A jewellery shop owner was seriously injured after being shot while resisting an alleged robbery attempt in a posh locality under the Kankarbagh police station area of Patna on Friday night.
Deepak Kumar, owner of Aanchal Alankar Jewellers, sustained a gunshot injury to his abdomen and is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU of a private hospital. His condition is reported to be critical.
According to SDPO Sadar‑1 Manoj Kumar, the incident occurred at around 10 p.m. Police recovered a pistol from the spot and are working to identify and arrest the accused.
Preliminary information suggests Deepak Kumar was sitting inside the jewellery shop with the front shutter partially closed, while the rear door was open. An armed man allegedly attempted to enter the shop through the rear entrance.
Deepak’s wife noticed the intruder and confronted him. Deepak then joined his wife in resisting the alleged robbery attempt. During the ensuing struggle, the accused allegedly opened fire, hitting Deepak in the abdomen. He collapsed at the scene, while the assailant fled, leaving the pistol behind.
Police reached the location after being alerted and rushed Deepak to a nearby private hospital.
Police teams are examining CCTV footage from the area to identify the accused and reconstruct the sequence of events. Raids are also being conducted at possible locations to apprehend the absconding suspect.
The recovery of the firearm from the scene and the CCTV footage are expected to form important parts of the ongoing investigation.
Patna Police registered an FIR at Kankarbagh Police Station under relevant sections of robbery and attempt to murder against unidentified assailants in connection with the incident.
The incident has also sparked concern among members of the local trading community, particularly jewellery shop owners, over their safety and security. The fact that the attack took place inside a jewellery shop has heightened fears among traders about the security of their establishments.
–IANS
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