Raipur: Masturi police has arrested two youth wanted in theft and loot of gold and silver jewelry from a Sarafa trader on his way to home. The youth had attacked the trader and robbed his jewelry on knifepoint in Masturi police station area late on Thursday.

Masturi police station in-charge Faizul Shah told that Amit Soni, resident of village Tikari, is a merchant of gold-silver jewelry. He does gold and silver jewelry business in the weekly market of villages of Masturi and Pachpedi police station area. The trader was returning home after finishing his weekly business in the village market of Okhar village with his partner Maniram Sahu. He had gold jewelry and cash in two bags.

Accused Deepak Singh and Sameer Singh, residents of Newari near Bhagwanpali Canal, stopped Amit Soni and his companions. As soon as he stopped, Sameer Singh hit his hand with a stick which unbalanced the bike and they fell down. They robbed his bags containing jewelry on knifepoint and escaped from the incident place on a bike without number plate.

Both Amit and Maniram started shouting and gathering crowds to inform them about the incident. After receiving information from the locals, a police team immediately reached the spot and sent Amit and Maniram hospital for treatment. The guards of Malhar post, Shivdhan Banjare, and Saddam Patale were rushed to chase the accused. The police recovered jewelry worth Rs 17 lakh from the accused. The accused was searched late on Thursday and Friday afternoon. Police raided the house of accused Sameer Singh, where he was found hiding in a field behind the house. The used motorcycle, knife, and sticks were also seized from the accused along with a bag full of jewelry including 170 grams gold jewelry worth about Rs 9.8 lakh and 400 grams silver jewelry worth about Rs 7.70 lakh. Besides, assets worth Rs 18 lakh have also been seized from the accused, said the police.