Panic swept through Sambhunath Das Lane in Kolkata’s Baranagar on Friday when 60-year-old jeweller Sankar Jana, owner of Saraswati Chain and Ornament, was found murdered inside his own shop. According to a report by The Indian Express, Jana’s legs were tied with a rope, and his body bore signs of blunt force trauma. Police believe he was attacked by robbers who were posing as customers before being killed.
Officers from Baranagar police station rushed to the spot and sealed the area as forensic experts began examining CCTV footage from the shop and neighbouring lanes. Jana was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
A respected local businessman and family man
Locals described Jana as a soft-spoken, respected member of the Baranagar jewellery community. He had been running his store, Saraswati Chain and Ornament, for decades and was known for his honesty and craftsmanship. “We are terrified after this incident. Where is our security? How can we do business when people are murdered in broad daylight?” one shopkeeper told Indian Express.
Jana’s son, who was in Delhi, grew suspicious when he noticed that the shop’s CCTV screens had gone blank. After failing to reach his father over the phone, he alerted neighbouring shopkeepers, who discovered Jana lying in a pool of blood.
Police probe points to planned heist
Barrackpore Police Commissioner Murlidhar Sharma, who visited the crime scene, said, “From initial inquiries and the footage we have, the assailants posed as customers to gain entry. After looting, they fled.”
Investigators suspect that five men were involved, with one standing guard outside and four entering the store. Police believe the group had conducted prior reconnaissance and chose the time between 3 and 3:30 pm as most neighbouring shops were shut post-Durga Puja. Jana’s missing mobile phone is now being traced for possible clues, while CCTV footage from 10 cameras across the area is under review.
