Businessman attacked in North 24 Pgs, gold chain worth 1.5 lakh stolen by 4 men

A violent robbery occurred on Monday night in Rajibpur, a locality within the Rajibpur-Bira Gram Panchayat area of Ashokenagar, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, when four masked men on a motorcycle targeted a local businessman. Rakesh Mondal, 36, a grocery store owner, was returning home with a fellow shopkeeper after closing his shop during heavy rain when the assailants blocked their path approximately 100 meters from his residence. The attackers brandished firearms and snatched his gold chain and locket, valued at around 1.5 to 2 lakh rupees, before fleeing on the motorcycle.

During the escape, one of the criminals stumbled while trying to get onto the bike, prompting Rakesh to pursue the group from Rajibpur to Ishwargacha. The assailants fired at him during the chase, but the bullets missed and struck a nearby tree. One of the suspects reportedly abandoned the motorcycle midway and ran, while the remaining three escaped. Despite his efforts, Rakesh was unable to apprehend any of the criminals. Locals gathered at the scene, and the incident created widespread panic in the area.

Following the attack, Rakesh filed a written complaint at Ashokenagar police station, and a large police contingent was deployed to investigate. Authorities have detained the driver and helper of the fleeing vehicle for questioning, and efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend the suspects. Police continue to investigate the incident, gathering eyewitness accounts and examining CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators and prevent further attacks in the election-bound region.