KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, Dec 7: A hardware trader had to part with his day’s proceeds as he was forced to do so by two armed men at his shop along the NH-33 under Ulidih thana area in Mango on Tuesday night.
The trader Rakesh Gupta was so frightened that he did not turn up to lodge an FIR till this afternoon after just informing about the incident to the police over the phone.
According to the victim, he was counting the day’s proceeds from his iron rod shop close to Uma Hospital before closing the shop at night when all other shops were already closed.
“When I was busy counting the cash, two youths came inside the shop and stood beside his counter. Then they took out pistols from their waistlines and started abusing me before demanding for handing over whatever cash I had with me. I was left with no option but to give in. They picked up the whole money and also my cellphone. But before leaving the place, they threw away my cellphone, threatening that if police are informed then next time they will come to shoot me,” said Gupta while talking to this correspondent.
He said a third man was ready on a bike and the two sat on it and sped away towards Dimna Chowk. Gupta on reaching home discussed the matter with his friends who advised him to inform the police.
“I just informed the police late in the night, leaving the police to detect the case if possible,” the trader pointed out.
The OC of Ulidih thana, Binod Tudu, confirmed to have got a complaint about the loot in a hardware shop but they are yet to get a formal FIR. The shopkeeper had told us to lodge the FIR, but he did not turn yet,” said Tudu.
He, however, said that they are trying to detect the case by taking out CCTV footage of the shop.
Local BJP leader Vikash Singh observed that such an incident takes place due to the ineffectiveness of the police.
“Patrolling should be carried out on regular basis on the NN-33 along Ulidih thana. Unfortunately, police swing into action only after a crime is committed,” deplored Singh.
