1 killed, 3 injured as dacoits rob jewellery shop near Kolkata, open fire during escape

According to reports, at least seven 'unidentified' dacoits attacked D.S. Debnath Jewellers at Sonarpur Rail Gate (East) area, metres away from Sonarpur Police Station and Sonarpur railway station, at around 7:15 pm. and robbed the store at gun-point in a 15-minute operation.

When proprietor of the jewellery shop tried to stop the miscreants from robbing the store, dacoits stabbed him and shot bullets aiming at the middle-aged man.

A female staffer of the store and two locals were also injured as robbers opened fire and charged crude bombs on them while leaving the place after operation.

Sustaining bullet injuries, four persons were rushed to M.R. Bangur Hospital in south Kolkata's Tollygunge area.

As the health condition of the shop owner, Dipak Debnath, deteriorated, he was shifted to a private hospital at E.M. Bypass area, where he has been declared dead, according to the latest update came in.

Remaining three persons are being treated in serious conditions in city hospitals.

As robbers threw at least four crude bombs, which did not go off, on railway tracks nearby, train service at the area was disrupted for hours following the incident.

However, a huge police force have been deployed to the spot.

A police official said that they have started probe into the matter while none has been arrested in connection with the case.

"Besides quizzing eye-witnesses and locals, we are examining jewellery store's CCTV footage to identify and catch the robbers' gang," a senior police official told IBNS.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha, Images: Facebook)