Nagpur: Four gun-toting robbers on bikes orchestrated a daring heist at a jewellery shop at Wanadongri on Hingna Road on Saturday afternoon. The goons downed the shop’s shutters, held the employee at gunpoint and fled with gold ornaments of nearly Rs 40 lakh. Police said the gang took only gold — around 35 tola — and did not take silver or cash. The shop, next to a veterinary hospital, is owned by Rajesh Dhomne.An employee, Shubham Hadge, had just opened the shop when two men walked in and within minutes, two others joined them. Once all four were inside, they pulled down the shutters and one of them whipped out a gun and aimed it at Hadge.The robbers emptied ornament boxes and jewellery in the safe and stuffed it into a bag. They also snatched Hadge’s mobile phone. As the gang sped away, Hadge ran out and tried to grab one of the bikes. The accused dragged him for some distance before he fell on the road and suffered injuries.Police examined the shop CCTV in which an accused’s face is visible. Another was wearing a helmet and the other two wore scarves on their faces. CCTV footage from adjoining areas and roads were also checked. Police are collating clues from footage, including the route of the fleeing bike-borne robbers.A senior police officer said one of the four could be the mastermind. Investigators are looking at the possibility he is out on bail or a hardened goon who carried out similar heists in the past.Police have begun using Artificial Intelligence to reconstruct the face from the shop camera so that it can be matched with the crime database. After Dhomne alerted police. deputy commissioner of police Rishikesh Singareddy, senior inspector Baburao Raut and others reached the spot.The daylight heist spread panic in Wanadongri. Traders in the area said a gunpoint robbery inside a jewellery shop, with the shutter closed, had left them uneasy about security during business hours.Office-bearers of Sarafa Association also reached the shop and asked police to trace the accused and step up checks around jewellery outlets.MIDC police have registered a case. Details on the exact weight of gold stolen are expected after the owner completes the stock check.
