In an attempt to loot a jewellery store in Raniganj, West Bengal, for ₹4 crore, a band of seven robbers broke in. But thanks to the assistance of a police officer, it was stopped. Sub-inspector Meghnad Mondal can be seen engaging in gunfire with the criminals from behind an electric pole in CCTV footage.
The bandits shot over 20 bullets before they escaped, leaving half of their haul behind, according to the West Bengal Police, who detailed the incident in a post on X. While the others are still being sought after, one of the suspects has been taken into custody.
Around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, a prominent jewellery store in the Tarbangla district was stormed by masked thieves armed with a rifle, a machine gun, and pistols. The customers and shopkeepers were startled by their abrupt appearance. The jewellers stole jewellery valued at more than ₹4 crore in a matter of minutes.
The police reported, “Factories in hand, threats and inaudible abuse; heads and faces covered with helmets and towels.” In case it’s excessive, the procedure requires roughly five minutes. In the process, jewellery valued at over four crore rupees was removed from the store. What happens next? Taking two motorcycles and departing with the loot in a white canvas bag.
But according to reports, SI Mondal, the head of a local police outpost, was there for private reasons. He was wearing civilian clothes, but he had his service revolver with him. He positioned himself behind an electric pole adjacent to the jewellery store, readying his handgun, after noticing strange activity nearby.
It continued, “Meghnad surmised that there was a problem in the gold shop by observing the terrified looks and hesitant running of the patrons. He pulled the service revolver from his belt as he got closer to the store and positioned himself behind a narrow electric pole that was only six inches wide.
When the shopkeeper noticed him, he warned the other robbers and started shooting. Mondal and the robbers engaged in gunfire for around thirty seconds while hiding behind the pole. One robber was hurt by him and fell to the ground. The others started firing as well. Even with the numbers against him, Mondal kept shooting. Overcome, the bandits made the decision to run. Riding a bike, they removed their injured partner and made off with ₹1.83 crore worth of jewellery. Along with 42 rounds of ammo, two backpacks, ₹2.5 crore worth of jewels, and another bike, they left behind.
In addition to the bike, the police reported that they also discovered two backpacks full of clothing, 42 rounds of ammo, a magazine, and a bag with jewellery valued at ₹2 crore 41 lakh.
Mondal made an unsuccessful attempt to pursue them. The thieves’ freedom of movement was curtailed when word of the crime reached all Naka posts and the Jharkhand police.
“Four of the seven hijacked a car after shooting the driver in the Asansol-Dakshin Thana area,” the police continued. The gunfire also caused minor injuries to a pedestrian, although it did not assist much either. The Jharkhand police assisted in swiftly seizing the vehicle.
Suraj Singh, a resident of the Gopalganj region of the Giridi district, was also arrested at the same time, the police stated in the thread on Tuesday. Sonu Singh, who sustained injuries in the incident, was taken into custody in the Siwan district of Bihar yesterday. He is presently receiving medical attention at a Dhanbad hospital. We will soon catch up with the rest of the gang based on the statements made by the two accused.
“Salute, just salute!” the West Bengal police exclaimed, praising Mondal for confronting the criminals without regard for his own life.