According to police, the dacoits entered the house of the jeweller around 3.30 am with the intention of looting his jewellery shop, located on the ground floor of the building. Chandana (37) and his family, including a son and a daughter, were asleep in an apartment when they heard the sound of a metal collapsible gate being forced open by the dacoits. After seeing her husband being beaten up by the dacoits for the keys of the shop, Chandana ran towards the balcony shouting for help. The dacoits then caught hold of her and pushed her off the balcony. The dacoits also took away Rs one lakh in cash.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Superintendent of Police, North 24-Parganas, P Supratim Sarkar said, “It’s too early to comment but an investigation was underway to identify and nab the culprits.”

Sarkar added that there was little likelihood of the dacoits being the same ones who had looted a garments store and a mobile phone outlet in the locality last month.

“The earlier incidents were the work of petty criminals and not the work of a gang this dangerous,” he said.

The recent incidents of crime against the businessmen in the area have enraged the traders’ community who have already announced a 12-hour bandh on Friday.