In a shocking daylight robbery, a group of masked assailants stormed a jewellery showroom in Arrah, Bihar, on Monday, holding customers and employees at gunpoint. The thieves looted jewellery worth ₹25 crore along with an undisclosed sum of cash. The daring crime unfolded shortly after the store opened at 10:30 a.m., when five to six armed men forced their way inside, subdued the security personnel, and took hostages. Surveillance footage captured the robbers ordering everyone to raise their hands as they swiftly gathered valuables and packed them into bags before making their getaway.

The robbery took place at the Tanishq showroom in Gopali Chowk, under the jurisdiction of the Arrah police station. Showroom manager Kumar Mrityunjay confirmed that the stolen items included a large quantity of gold jewellery, such as necklaces, chains, and bangles, along with some diamond pieces and cash.

Manoj Kumar, the showroom’s security guard, described the terrifying ordeal. According to him, the store had opened at 10 a.m. in anticipation of the Holi festival.

“Around six men arrived in a car and parked it across the street. Since store policy limits the number of customers entering in groups, we allowed them in pairs. When the sixth person approached, he pulled out a pistol, pointed it at my head, seized my weapon, and assaulted me. Then, they began filling their bags with jewellery,” he recounted.

Rohit Kumar Mishra, an employee at the showroom, told IANS that as panic spread, many staff members sought cover behind counters to protect themselves.

Following the heist, Bhojpur’s Superintendent of Police directed station heads to conduct thorough vehicle checks across the district. CCTV footage and images of the suspects were shared on local law enforcement networks. Acting on this intelligence, police teams stationed near Babura Choti bridge spotted six men on three motorcycles moving at high speed towards Doriganj.

When officers signaled them to halt, the suspects attempted to flee, leading to a high-speed chase. The robbers opened fire on the police, who retaliated in self-defense. In the ensuing exchange, two suspects were injured and taken into custody for medical treatment. The police recovered two pistols, ten cartridges, stolen jewellery, and a Pulsar motorcycle from the suspects.

The jewellery brand is collaborating with law enforcement to assess the losses and aid in the investigation. Meanwhile, showroom staff have criticized the authorities for their delayed response.

“This was a major failure on the part of the police. The robbery happened in broad daylight, not at night. We kept calling for help, but no one responded,” Mrityunjay told PTI. He also revealed that two showroom executives suffered head injuries after being struck with a firearm.