Bengaluru: A jewellery shop owner was injured after being shot while thwarting an attempted daylight robbery by two armed men at Dobbespet near Nelamangala on Thursday afternoon. The accused fled empty-handed after the shopkeeper put up a fierce resistance.

The victim, Kunnaram, owner of Prem Shiva Jewellers, sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Doctors confirmed that he is out of danger. A staff member present inside the shop escaped unhurt.

Robbers posed as customers

According to police, the incident occurred at around 2.24 pm when two men arrived in a Mahindra Bolero and entered the jewellery store pretending to be customers.

CCTV footage shows the duo casually walking into the shop before suddenly pulling out a firearm and confronting Kunnaram, who was having lunch inside the premises.

The accused allegedly attempted to break open the display counters to loot gold ornaments.

Shop owner fights back

Despite being caught by surprise, Kunnaram courageously resisted the robbery by throwing nearby objects at the attackers, disrupting their plan.

The miscreants then opened fire. One bullet struck Kunnaram in the leg, while another hit a wall inside the shop.

Unable to overpower the jeweller or steal any valuables, the robbers abandoned the attempt and fled towards Doddaballapur in their getaway vehicle.

The gunshots triggered panic among shopkeepers and residents in the busy commercial area.

Police launch manhunt

Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police Chandrakanth, along with officers from the Dobbespet Police Station, forensic experts and a dog squad, visited the crime scene and began an investigation.

Police said CCTV footage from the jewellery store and nearby locations has been collected, and special teams have been formed to identify and trace the suspects and their vehicle.

“The miscreants failed to escape with any valuables because of the swift resistance of the shop owner. We are analysing CCTV footage and have launched a search to apprehend the accused,” the SP said.

The investigation is ongoing.