Nagpur: Three armed miscreants on a motorcycle intercepted a jeweller at Pipla Phata under Khaparkheda police station limits on Thursday night, shot him in the leg and fled with gold and silver ornaments along with cash, totalling around Rs 12 lakh. The incident has created fear among local traders and jewellery shop owners in the area.The victim, Mangesh Marotkar, 35, a resident of Walni Vasti, runs a bullion shop at Dehgaon Rangari. Preliminary probe indicates that the robbers were tailing the jeweller right from his shop, raising strong suspicion of a tip-off leading to the targeted attack.As per police, Marotkar closed his shop around 8 pm and was proceeding home on his motorcycle with a bag containing valuable jewellery and cash. As Marotkar reached the curve near Dhan Gauri Baba Temple at Pipla Phata, the trio on a motorcycle blocked his way.The robbers allegedly fired a pistol shot at Marotkar’s leg, leaving him injured on the spot. They then snatched the bag containing silver ornaments worth Rs 10 lakh, gold jewellery worth Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 35,000 in cash before escaping from the scene.An injured Marotkar somehow managed to contact his friends while a vigilant local citizen informed the police.A team from Khaparkheda police station rushed to the location, shifted Marotkar to a nearby hospital, where his condition is reported to be stable.Police have now launched an intensive search by scanning multiple CCTV cameras installed around the jewellery shop, the Pipla Phata route and nearby areas to identify the suspects, their vehicle number and possible escape routes. Forensic experts have collected vital evidence from the crime scene.A case was registered, while teams are working round the clock to nab the accused at the earliest. Senior officers are closely monitoring the investigation.
