In a daring robbery, three criminals fired shots at one Jogendra, working for a Saharanpur-based jeweller Raj Kumar Jain and looted a bag with ornaments worth lakhs from him in Rishikesh on Wednesday. The incident occurred at Aashutosh Crossing at around 10.25 pm. Those involved in the crime are at large.
A police officer said that on behalf of Jain, Jogendra (40), native of Deoband, Saharanpur used to supply ornaments to Rishikesh-based jewellery retailers.
To supply jewelleries on demand on Wednesday, Jogendra took a bus from Deoband for Rishikesh. When he was de-boarding at Rishikesh, three bike-borne criminals snatched the bag with ornaments from him.
Jogendra got into scuffle with the criminals and tried his best to take back his bag. Meanwhile, one of the criminals fired shots at him. Bullet pierced into his shoulder and one of ears. After firing, the criminals escaped while the firearm, a country-made pistol, used in the crime, fell on the spot.
Injured Jogendra was rushed to a local Government hospital from where he was shifted to Jolly Grant Hospital. His condition is reported to be stable.
Police rushed to the spot after being informed and recovered the pistol from the spot. Meanwhile, police sealed the area after the incident and conducted vehicle checking drives to nab the criminals. Police are, however, yet to identify the criminals.
Rishikesh police station in-charge inspector Vijay Chandra Singh Gusain said that teams have been formed to investigate the case. However, Jain was yet to lodge an FIR, he added. He further said that Jogendra would report the complaint after he is released from the hospital.
The members of Sarafa Vyapar Mandal expressed anger over the incident, saying that crimes against the jewellers are happening at regular intervals. They said they were worried about their security. Administration should take measures to stop such crimes in Rishikesh and other parts of the district, they said.