District police have arrested two accused in Bihar in connection with the Hunsur jewellery shop dacoity, which took place in broad daylight on December 28.
The accused were traced to Bihar by police and apprehended after a coordinated operation. In this high-profile case, the suspects had deliberately avoided using mobile phones, making digital tracking impossible. Police identified the duo using facial recognition technology.
At a press conference, District Superintendent of Police Mallikarjuna Baladandi said the dacoity was orchestrated by a notorious inter-state gang. “While two accused have been arrested, more than 10 suspects are believed to be involved. CCTV footage showed five individuals committing the robbery, with the faces of three suspects visible,” he said.
Using an internal database, police traced and arrested Rishikesh Kumar Singh (alias Chotu), a Delhi resident, and Pankaj, a native of Bhagalpur, Bihar, in Darbhanga district. The operation was led by Additional SP L Nagesh with Inspectors Santosh Kashyap, D M Puneeth, and Sub-Inspector Ajay Kumar, with support from Bihar police.
According to the SP, Rishikesh Singh is involved in four prior murder and robbery cases, while Pankaj—the mastermind—has 27 criminal cases to his name. The duo reportedly formed a professional gang in various jails across India and began operating together. No local Mysuru residents were involved in the robbery.
The gang targeted Sky Gold and Diamond Jewellery Store on the Hunsur Bypass, scouting locations in Kodagu, Hassan, and Mysuru. Before the heist, they stayed in local lodges, using fake Aadhaar cards and phone numbers to evade detection. Staff were threatened at gunpoint, and the gang allegedly stole 450 types of jewellery weighing 8.34 kg, valued at around Rs10 crore.
Police have recovered 12.5 grams of gold, Rs92,000 in cash, a jewellery box, and a Royal Enfield motorcycle so far. Over 50 officers have been involved in the ongoing investigation to recover the remaining stolen valuables.
