Three rob jeweller outside Santa Cruz station

MUMBAI: In a daring armed robbery on a busy street outside Santa Cruz (W) station, three men on Saturday evening stepped out of an autorickshaw, attacked a jeweller with a knife, and after securing his bag of gold ornaments, hijacked the auto and left the crime scene before anyone could raise an alarm.
The victim, Andheri-based jeweller Mahavir Parekh, 39, sustained knife-inflicted wounds on his left leg and is recuperating at Asha Parekh Hospital, Santa Cruz (W).Deputy commissioner of police Pratap Dighavkar said that the incident occurred at 6pm. "The men had arrived in the auto and saw Parekh with the bag. He was on his way to a retailer to hand over the ornaments. The accused got off the rickshaw, attacked him with the knife and snatched the bag," Dighavkar said. They then threatened the rickshaw driver Ramesh Pandit (29), forced him out, and decamped in the vehicle
The police are yet to ascertain the value of the gold ornaments. "Parekh is recovering, but is in no position to give his statement. We have recorded the statement of the driver, whose rickshaw was also stolen," Dighavkar added.
A senior police officer said that such heists in the Santa Cruz (W) area are rare. "We are shocked at the audacity of the accused as the area is always busy and crowed." The police hope to identify the trio with the help of Pandit and Parekh.