Three accused in jeweller’s killing in Pendra held, others at large

Raipur: Almost a week after a jeweller was shot dead in broad daylight at a crowded weekly market in Chhattisgarh’s Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district, police have cracked the murder-and-loot case, revealing a carefully planned robbery allegedly masterminded by a local man who hired shooters from Bihar and Jharkhand to execute the killing.

Three accused, including the alleged mastermind, have been arrested, while the main shooters remain on the run.

Bilaspur range IG Ram Gopal Garg said the accused had spent days surveying jewellery traders visiting the Kotmikala weekly market before executing the robbery on May 26.

Jewellery trader Pradeep Soni was preparing to leave the crowded haat market around 7pm when armed men allegedly tried to snatch a bag containing gold and silver ornaments. When Soni resisted, one of the attackers shot him at point-blank range in the chest before fleeing with the jewellery-filled bag on a motorcycle.

The murder in the middle of a busy rural market had triggered outrage across the region, with traders shutting shops and the victim’s family later demanding a CBI probe into the case.

Police said investigations revealed that the conspiracy was allegedly hatched by Khushiram Sahu of Bitkula village in Bilaspur district along with his nephew Rajaram Sahu. The duo allegedly contacted a man identified as Rahul who brought in hired shooters for the robbery from Bihar and Jharkhand.

On May 23, the group allegedly assembled at Bitkula village to chalk out the final plan. On the day of the murder, they reached Deorikhurd and closely monitored Soni’s movements before carrying out the attack.

Investigators said the accused later gathered at the house of one Gaya Prasad Rajak in Deorikhurd, where they divided looted ornaments among themselves. Police said packaging materials and other evidence linked to the robbery were later burnt on a nearby hillock to destroy traces of the crime.

Police have so far arrested Khushiram Sahu, Rajaram Sahu and Gaya Prasad Rajak.

A country-made pistol used in the crime, two live cartridges, part of the looted jewellery and three mobile phones have been seized from the accused.

However, the alleged shooters — identified as Rahul, Sanjay and Raju — are still on the run. Police teams have been dispatched to multiple states to trace them.

The murder had snowballed into a major law-and-order issue after the victim’s family accused police of failing to crack the case even six days after the killing. Led by Chhattisgarh Janta Congress leader Amit Jogi, family members had earlier met district officials demanding a high-level CBI inquiry.

IG Garg said a reward of Rs 30,000 had earlier been announced for information leading to the arrest of the accused.