The incident occurred as Vikas Sahu, accountant of a local grain merchant, was returning to the office after withdrawing the cash from a nearby bank. Eyewitnesses said the robbers intercepted Sahu near gate number 1 of the market, assaulted him, and fled with the money.
Following the attack, Additional Superintendent of Police Ayush Gupta, accompanied by a team from Vijay Nagar police station, reached the scene. Checkpoints have been established across the city in an effort to apprehend the suspects. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the assailants fleeing the site.
The robbery sparked immediate unrest among traders, who staged a protest at the market office. Deepak Dongria, President of the Jabalpur Grain and Oilseed Traders Association, announced that trading and auctions would be suspended until the accused are caught. “We cannot continue business while security is so lax,” he said.
Traders expressed frustration over longstanding security concerns, alleging that repeated complaints to the Mandi administration regarding unruly behavior, drug use, and inadequate policing had gone unaddressed. Many highlighted that despite paying regular taxes to the Mandi Secretary, proper safety arrangements remain absent.
The city police have intensified patrolling under the SP’s direction, barricading key routes to track the robbers. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses to identify the suspects.
Authorities have appealed to the public for information that may aid in the swift recovery of the stolen funds and the arrest of the perpetrators. The case has raised renewed calls for stronger security measures in the city’s wholesale markets to prevent similar incidents in the future.
