Ara Tanishq Showroom Robbery Unveiled:
In Bihar's Ara, the Tanishq showroom was initially reported to have been robbed of 25 crores, hailed as the state's largest heist. It dominated headlines and news channels, yet surprisingly, within 24 hours, the estimated value of the stolen jewelry was more than halved. Police have apprehended two of the robbers following a dramatic encounter, and further identities of the gang have been determined. The manhunt is ongoing.
An FIR registered at Ara Police Station details a theft of ten crores worth of jewels, not twenty-five. Bhojpur's SP Raj clarified the sum as ten crores and boasted recovering considerable loot from two bags after the robbers' arrests.
Intriguingly, the FIR was filed by the store manager who had claimed the higher figure a day prior. Among the five intruders, only two had masked faces, with the rest being captured freely on CCTV. These audacious criminals, likely between 25 and 30 years, casually wore slippers. Notably, arrested robbers Vishal Gupta and Kunal Kumar hail from Saran and Sonpur.
A gunfight with authorities took place about 20 kilometers from the showroom, leaving Vishal and Kunal wounded in the legs. They remain hospitalized while their capture has relieved police who uncovered their gang associates' identities. Seized at the scene were two pistols, ten cartridges, bags of loot, and their getaway Pulsar motorcycle. Despite these successes, four suspects remain at large.
The Bhojpur police have successfully retrieved the gun stolen from the showroom guard. A robber had snatched it upon entering. Investigations, including the suspects' questioning, revealed the meticulous planning and surveillance of the target. Ara's Tanishq showroom, prominently positioned at the city's main junction, is bustling with traffic officers and just 300 meters from the police station, yet failed calls from the showroom staff went unanswered during the heist.
Meanwhile, the robbers executed their plans deftly, cognizant of the security protocols limiting showroom entry to four persons at a time. Despite showroom policies barring masked individuals, three robbers with unexposed faces entered initially, while masked accomplices subdued the guard, securing entry with firearms.
CCTV footage reveals an absence of intent to harm; the pistols served to intimidate. As one staff member discreetly attempted to escape by the door, a robber commanded attention, though was diverted from violence by a peer. Within just nine minutes, the robbers packed bags and pockets with loot. By 10:37 AM, displaying a threatening demeanor, they exited the showroom, joining accomplices on parked motorcycles outside, speeding away into the distance. Alerted staff then raised the alarm.
(Inputs from Sonu Singh at Ara)
