Rs.100 mn robbery in Chandigarh jewellery store (Second Lead)

CHANDIGARH - In what is believed to be the biggest heist in the history of this union territory, a gang of 10-15 robbers dressed in police uniforms looted jewellery worth over Rs.10 crore (Rs.100 million) from the Tanishq showroom in Manimajra town, police said.

The accused, dressed in Uttar Pradesh Police uniforms, overpowered two security guards and gained entry into the showroom after breaking its locks Tuesday night.

“It is apparent that it is the handiwork of a professional gang,” Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh told reporters.

“They (accused) immediately wore masks on entering the premises and dismantled the CCTV cameras. CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) experts have collected vital clues from the spot,” Singh said.

Police found two sets of police uniforms from the spot.

Anil Gupta, owner of the showroom, said he was still evaluating the loss.

Police said the accused spent nearly 15 minutes inside the showroom.

Taking serious note of the incident and the deteriorating law and order situation in the city in general, Advisor to the Union Territory Administrator Pradip Mehra directed the police chief to take immediate steps.

In a similar incident in January 2009, six robbers clad in police uniforms had looted jewellery worth Rs.2 crore from PC Jewellers showroom.

The Chandigarh Police is facing flak for its failure in solving various cases of murder, kidnapping, robbery and rape that have rocked this union territory in the past few months.