Four behind bars for armed robbery at goldsmith’s house

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 15

With the arrest of four persons, the city police on Saturday claimed to have solved the robbery case wherein armed persons had looted a family in Mohan Nagar, Sultanwind road, after taking a goldsmith’s family hostage at gunpoint a week ago. The police have recovered Rs 5.18 lakh, jewellery, weapon and motorcycle used in the crime from their possession.

Those arrested have been identified as Harjinder Singh Babblu of Bhai Manjh Road, Vikramjit Singh, alias Vicky, of Silver Estate, Gurjant Singh of Sanghna Havelia village and Umesh Kumar of Mandiala road.

Police Commissioner SS Srivastava said Vikramjit had taken a loan from the victim goldsmith, Jagdish Singh. While returning the loan, he lost everything he had due to a higher interest rate Jagdish had imposed. Therefore he, along with others, planned to loot him. The accused were produced in the court and taken on police remand for further interrogation.

On June 7, two youths, equipped with a pistol, barged into the Jagdish’s house and decamped with gold jewellery weighing 800 gm and Rs 11 lakh in cash at gunpoint.

Jagdish was not present at home when the incident took place. His son physically challenged Satnam Singh informed the police that he was present at home when two persons came. As his mother opened the gate, they entered the house in no time and took the family members, including his mother, sister and him, hostage at gunpoint. They demanded the keys of their almirah and locker. Later, they opened the safe and decamped with the valuables. He said one of them had covered his face while another did not. He said he did not know them.

The police had got a CCTV footage in which the accused were seen fleeing from the spot on a motorcycle. They had covered their faces. The CCTV footage helped the police identify the suspects.

Borrower turns mastermind

On June 7, two youths, equipped with a pistol, barged into the house of goldsmith Jagdish. They took hostage the family at gunpoint and looted gold jewellery weighing 800 gm and Rs 11 lakh in cash. One of the accused is Vikramjit Singh, alias Vicky, of Silver Estate who had taken a loan from Jagdish, but couldn't repay it citing high rate of interest so he planned the robbery. Others who joined him are Harjinder Singh Babblu of Bhai Manjh Road, Gurjant Singh of Sanghna Havelia village and Umesh Kumar of Mandiala road.