No masks, no burqas, no helmets: Now, Chhattisgarh jewellers bar covered faces after Rs 1-crore heist

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh’s Pradesh Sarrafa Association has unanimously decided that customers with covered faces will not be allowed to enter jewellery shops anywhere in the state. The restriction applies to people wearing helmets, burqas, veils, masks or any other form of face covering. The association said the move aims to ensure clear identification through CCTV cameras and curb suspicious activity. Association president Kamal Soni said the decision was taken after a recent robbery at a jewellery shop in Navapara–Rajim in Gariaband district, where gold and silver ornaments worth nearly Rs 1 crore were looted. The incident, he said, has created fear and insecurity among jewellers across Chhattisgarh. Soni appealed to all traders to immediately strengthen security arrangements at their establishments, including installing high-resolution CCTV cameras, alarm systems and secure lockers. He also urged the state government and police to provide adequate protection to jewellery traders and ensure the swift arrest of those involved in the Navapara–Rajim robbery. The association clarified that denying entry to customers wearing helmets, burqas, masks or veils is purely a security measure and not aimed at any community or social group. “This step has been taken solely in the interest of safety and crime prevention,” the association said. Similar restrictions are already in place in states such as Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. With this decision, Chhattisgarh has joined the list in an effort to deter organised robberies targeting jewellery shops.