Protests in Jamtara after miscreants loot jewellery store, fire at owner

Dumka: Trade and commerce in Jamtara remained severely affected on Thursday as local businessman downed their shutters to protest the loot at a prominent jewellery store in town on Wednesday evening. The owner of the store sustained gunshot wounds when he tried to resist the robbers. He is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital. Police said the value of looted ornaments were being ascertained.Health minister Irfan Ansari, who is the local MLA, visited the store. “The police have been directed to crack the case within 24 hours,” he said.Four men pulled up outside the jewellery store of Aman Verma (35) at Kayasthapara around 6 pm on Wednesday. Brandishing guns, two them entered the store wearing masks and looted ornaments.When Verma tried to resist, he was shot in the stomach and neck. Then, the miscreants fired shots in the air as they fled, attempting to trigger panic among the residents. Verma was taken to Jamatara sadar hospital, from where he was referred to a private hospital in Durgapur in West Bengal in a critical condition.Traders protested the shooting by keeping their establishments shut since morning. They also took to the streets and raised slogans against the police. leader and former civic body chairman Virendra Mandal, along with workers and members of the district chamber of commerce, joined the protest to show their solidarity.Heavy police deployment at key locations in Jamtara town was ensured as a precautionary measure.Jamtara SP Rajkumar Mehta, who visited the crime scene along with his subordinates soon after the incident, said a probe is underway to arrest the robbers. “A special investigation team led by two Dy SP ranked officers has been constituted to identify the miscreants. Police suspect they are part of an inter-state gang,” Mehta told TOI.The SP said he had met local jewellers 10 days ago and held a meeting on bolstering security on their premises. Verma, however, did not follow the suggestions, Mehta claimed. "Initial probe has revealed negligence on part of Verma. There were no CCTVs on the premises. The security guard had gone to buy snacks when the robbers barged in,” Mehta said.