A wholesaler of grocery items in Howrah’s Salkia has alleged that two bike-borne youths snatched a bag containing several lakhs from him while he was returning home on Friday night after shutting his shop on Benaras Road.
The two drove towards Bamangachi bridge after snatching the bag, which had several trade-related documents apart from money, Sajjan Kumar Singhania have told police.
The police are scanning CCTV footage of vehicles that had moved down Benaras Road around 8pm on Friday night to ascertain the identities of the youths. Till Saturday evening, no one was arrested.
“It appears that someone was aware that Sajjan Singhania would be returning home with the money and accordingly planned the entire operation,” said a senior officer of Howrah police commissionerate.
A case has been drawn up at Malipanchghora police station following Sajjan’s complaint.
Officers said they had interrogated a few of his acquaintances for specific leads.
“It was around 8.10pm on Friday when I was returning home. Two youths came riding a motorbike from behind and snatched the bag. One of them wore a helmet while the other did not,” Sajjan said.
“I had picked up the entire cash from the day’s proceedings and don’t remember the exact amount in the bag.”
A section of local traders said the incident had left them worried and insecure, considering that the youths had snatched the bag not too late at night on an otherwise busy thoroughfare in Howrah.
“We have been doing business in this part of Howrah for several decades. This has never happened,” said Asim Roy, who sells steel utensils.
The police said around this time of the year several traders in and around Howrah usually deal with large amounts of cash, which is often required to pay staff and others ahead of Chhath Puja.
Sajjan’s may be a similar case, they said. The criminals had specific information about him carrying cash on Friday night.