Patna: Traders down shutters to protest loot in Bakarganj jewellery shop

PATNA: A day after the loot of ornaments worth rupees several crores from a jewellery shop in Bakarganj area under Kadamkuan police station area in the state capital, the traders in the locality kept their shutters down on Saturday and took out a protest march over the deteriorating law and order situation.
Patna DM Chandrashekhar Singh and SSP Manavjit Singh Dhillon convened a meeting with the members of bullion traders association and sought suggestions to curb crime through mutual coordination and cooperation with the police.
The traders demanded the arrest of the criminals and recovery of the looted jewellery. The DM and the SSP assured them all possible help and security to all the businessmen.
The SSP said the police have identified the criminals involved in the loot. “Motorbike and arms used in the loot incident were recovered. The criminals will be arrested soon,” he said.
One of the four criminals in the loot incident was nabbed by the locals when the robbers were trying to decamp with the jewellery on Friday. The SSP assured the traders to set up a checkpost in Bakarganj and increase the police deployment in the area.
The DM asked the SSP to increase patrolling and and fix areawise responsibilities to the police stations. ‘Panther’ mobile patrolling team was asked to remain vigilant for the effective monitoring. The traders were asked to install CCTV cameras in and outside their shops, so that any activity could be effectively monitored. The shopowners were asked for police verification of their staff.
It was decided to hold a meeting at the police station every month to discuss the problems faced by the business community. Some of the traders demanded arms licences.
Additional collector (law and order) K K Singh, president of Patliputra Sarafa Association Vinod Kumar, general secretary Shashi Kumar, Alankar Jewellers’ Amit Kumar, SS Jewellers owner Sanjeev Kumar and over 125 bullion traders were present at the meeting.