Patna, April 3 (NationPress) In a shocking incident, an armed gang executed a bold robbery in broad daylight at a jewellery outlet located in Bihar’s Darbhanga district on Friday, making off with valuables totaling approximately Rs 1.8 crore. This alarming event has reignited fears regarding the safety and law enforcement in the region.

The heist took place around 2:55 p.m. at “Prem Jewellers”, situated in the bustling Bara Bazar area under the jurisdiction of the Nagar Police Station.

Shop proprietor Manoj Kumar reported that four armed assailants stormed the shop, taking customers and employees hostage at gunpoint and executing the theft in a matter of minutes.

“They were abusive and violent. We were scared and chose not to fight back. They even attempted to damage the CCTV DVR and Wi-Fi setup,” Kumar recounted.

Initial assessments indicate that gold and silver jewellery valued at around Rs 1.5 crore, along with Rs 22–25 lakh in cash, was stolen. The shop primarily operates on a wholesale basis, catering to smaller retailers, and therefore had a substantial inventory at the time. The precise loss will be determined following a thorough inventory check.

This robbery occurred in one of the city’s most trafficked commercial areas, with reports suggesting that police arrived nearly half an hour post-incident.

High-ranking officials, including DIG Manoj Tiwari and SSP Jagannath Reddy, promptly visited the site and launched a comprehensive investigation. The SSP has confirmed the occurrence of the robbery.

Authorities believe that the suspects are aged between 25 and 30, with at least one of them remaining unmasked. CCTV footage is currently under review, and district-wide checkpoints have been established to apprehend the offenders.

In stark contrast, a recent robbery in Patna witnessed swift police response. Just last Tuesday, four armed thieves stole jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh from a shop in the Danapur area. The police quickly formed a special investigation unit comprising senior officers.

Utilizing CCTV footage and technical surveillance, the team tracked the suspects’ movements and mobile signals, leading to the arrest of all four individuals within two days, outside Patna. A significant portion of the stolen jewellery, along with illegal firearms and the motorcycle used in the crime, was recovered.

Initial inquiries revealed that this previous robbery had been planned with the assistance of a local informant. The perpetrators, originally from the Siwan and Saran districts, have confessed during questioning. Authorities are now investigating possible connections to other robbery incidents.

The stark difference between the rapid resolution of the Patna case and the audacious Darbhanga robbery has sparked a renewed debate regarding policing effectiveness and security measures in Bihar. The latest incident has heightened apprehension among traders and local residents, particularly in busy marketplaces.

Officials have stated that efforts are underway to swiftly capture the assailants and restore public trust.