PULWAMA — Pulwama town in south Kashmir witnessed a series of burglaries overnight, as daring thieves targeted at least half a dozen shops, leaving the traders and businessmen in shock.
The reports of a local Daily indicate that the burglaries occurred in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, with thieves breaking into 5 to 6 shops and making off with a substantial amount of goods, cash, and valuable items worth lakhs of rupees.
The incident came to light when Mushtaq Ahmad, a shop owner at the renowned Chudi Market, discovered his shop shutter broken open during his early morning walk. Soon after, he learned that several other shops in the market had also fallen victim to the burglaries.
The affected shopkeepers were visibly distraught and spent the day repairing their shop shutters.
Ghulam Mohammad Bhagwan, a wholesale grocery dealer, stated, “I received a call in the morning informing me about the incident.” While he is still assessing the extent of the loss, Bhagwan expressed gratitude for the swift response of the police, who visited his shop and promised prompt action.
Social media was abuzz with reports of 20 to 25 shops being looted, but SSP Pulwama, Mohammad Yousuf, clarified that the actual number of targeted shops was 5 to 6. He confirmed that the thieves attempted to break into a few other shops without success and assured the initiation of a thorough investigation.
Fayaz Ahmad Wani, President of the Chamber and Commerce Industries Kashmir (CCIK), expressed the shock felt by the trading community. “We are currently assessing the loss,” he disclosed, highlighting the widespread impact of the burglaries on local businesses.
As the investigations continue, shop owners and the community at large hope for swift justice and effective measures to prevent future incidents of this nature, ensuring the safety and security of Pulwama town.
