The jewellery trader murder case in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi has seen fresh arrests, with police nabbing the alleged main shooter and recovering looted gold, silver, weapons and vehicles.

Main Shooter Among Arrested

Police in Chhattisgarh’s Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district have arrested three more accused, including the alleged main shooter, in the murder and robbery case involving jewellery trader Pradeep Soni. Investigators said the accused had attempted to rob Soni of a bag containing gold and silver ornaments before fatally shooting him when he resisted.

The latest arrests include Manish Mandal alias Rahul and Sujit alias Raju Das from Bihar, along with Santosh Das from Jharkhand. Their arrest comes days after police had taken four other accused, including the alleged mastermind, into custody.

Robbery Turned Deadly

According to police officials, the incident took place at the weekly market in Kotmikala. Pradeep Soni, a jewellery trader, was carrying ornaments when a group of assailants allegedly tried to snatch his bag.

Investigators said Soni resisted the robbery attempt, leading to a confrontation. During the struggle, Manish Mandal allegedly pulled out a country-made firearm and opened fire at close range. The bullet struck Soni in the chest, causing critical injuries.

He was rushed to the district hospital but was declared dead by doctors on arrival.

Weapons, Gold Recovered

Police said several items linked to the crime have been recovered from the arrested accused. These include the country-made pistol allegedly used in the shooting, four live cartridges, around 40 grams of gold, nearly 4.5 kilograms of silver, seven mobile phones, two motorcycles and a Swift car believed to have been used during the operation.

Officials described the recoveries as a significant breakthrough in the investigation.

Mastermind Identified

Investigators have identified Khushiram Sahu, a resident of Bitkula village in Bilaspur district, as the alleged mastermind behind the conspiracy.

According to police, Sahu had conducted reconnaissance of jewellery traders operating in the market and planned the robbery in advance. His nephew Rajaram Sahu and son-in-law Shreyansh Shukla allegedly assisted in executing the plan.

Police said Sahu contacted associates in Bihar and Jharkhand and arranged for hired shooters to participate in the crime.

Interstate Network Uncovered

The probe has revealed that the accused travelled from Bihar to Chhattisgarh specifically for the robbery. Along with Manish Mandal, Sujit Das and Santosh Das allegedly joined the operation after being brought in through contacts linked to the mastermind.

After the murder and robbery, the accused reportedly fled in different directions. Investigators later traced their movements using technical evidence, mobile phone records and intelligence inputs.

Police said some of the accused took shelter in remote areas after losing their way while escaping. The group later regrouped with local accomplices before attempting to conceal evidence and distribute the stolen valuables.

Effort to Destroy Evidence

Investigators also found that the accused allegedly separated the stolen gold and silver from their packaging and attempted to destroy evidence. Boxes, plastic packaging and other materials used to store the ornaments were reportedly burnt in a hilly area near Tilora.

Some items were hidden at different locations to avoid detection, police said.

Investigation Continues

The murder of Pradeep Soni had triggered concern among traders in the region, particularly because the attack took place in a busy market area. The case prompted an intensive investigation involving multiple police teams.

With the arrest of the alleged main shooter and recovery of a substantial portion of the looted property, officials believe the jewellery trader murder case is nearing resolution. However, police said further investigation is underway to establish the full sequence of events and identify any additional links connected to the crime.