19 jewellery stores robbed by armed men in Ashulia

In a daring heist, armed men robbed as many as 19 jewellery stores at Savar’s Ashulia.

The robberies, at the outskirts of Dhaka city, were reported early on Monday, said Ashulia police’s Sub Inspector Harun-ur-Rashid.

Citing witnesses, he said that the owners went home after closing their shops on Sunday night. A few of their employees regularly stay back and sleep inside the stores as a safety measure.

“During the early hours of Monday, a group of robbers came at the Nayarhat area via the Bangshi River on a boat and raided the stores. The robbers took the security guard of the market hostage at gunpoint and threatened the employees to open the shutters. 

“Later, the robbers tied everyone up with ropes and looted gold ornaments and cash and immediately left the scene using the same boat that they arrived in.”

According to the shop owners, gold ornaments and cash worth several crores were looted by the robbers.

Gaurang, one of the shop owners who got robbed, said: “About 70 to 80 robbers entered the jewellry market at around 1:30am. All of them had guns and locally made weapons with them. They assaulted the market’s security guard at gunpoint. 

“The employees were so afraid that couldn’t even shout for help. The robbers looted around 150 bhoris of gold ornaments from the 19 shops.” 

Contacted, Shahidul Islam, additional superintendent of police (ASP) of Savar circle, said: “Police have already visited the scene. Necessary steps will be taken upon further investigation.”