Krishnanagar dacoity : ‘They shot everyone who came in their way’

LUCKNOW: “For few minutes, we thought that we will not survive as the robbers mercilessly shot anyone who came in way,” said the other two employees at RK Jewellers, who were in the shop in Krishnanagar on Saturday night, when the dacoits struck and killed two and left two others, including the owner, injured before fleeing with cash and jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh.

Four persons — owner RK Gupta and workers Rajan Yadav, Guddu Putwa and Ritesh — were in the shop when it was targeted. Two other workers had gone out for some work: Shyam had ventured out to relieve himself while Deepak had gone to burn some papers.

Gupta was shot thrice in the back and was rushed to KGMU Trauma Centre where his condition is still critical. Doctors said that bullets have been removed but Gupta is under observation for 72 hours. Guddu was shot in the chest and was rushed to Trauma Centre where he died. ATM guard Deshraj was also shot in chest, he died on the spot.

Sitting outside the closed jewellery shop with other traders and workers on Sunday. Rajan, still shivering with fear, recalled, “All hell broke loose in five minutes. It was 9.20pm. We had started packing up when power supply of entire area went off due to some technical snag. Two men wearing helmets entered the shop with their mobile phone torches on. They trained guns at us and demanded that cash and jewellery be handed over. I tried to dial UP 100 but the call did not connect. Gupta ji tried to call police while opening the safe, but they noticed and fired at him thrice. Guddu rushed to help saheb but they shot him as well.”

“I froze for few seconds thinking I would be the next, but quickly ducked behind the counter as they turned towards me. The assailants then left firing indiscriminately,” said Ritesh. The robbers shot ATM guard Deshraj and injured a passerby woman. We then called police and with help of other traders rushed Gupta ji and other injured to hospital.” Gupta lives with his wife Mamta, two daughters and a son in nearby Snehnagar area. His brothers Ravindra and Rajesh also have jewellery shops in Alambagh and Aminabad, respectively.

Rajesh said that his brother was carrying a licensed revolver with him but everything happened so fast that he did couldn’t draw it out. “We have been going through hard times. Ravindra’s son Shyam was just 20 when he was shot by his friends over a money-dispute in Barabanki eight years back and now this,” Rajesh said.