Thieves looted cash and goods from a grocery shop at Sonamura Bottoli Market....

After nearly 10 to 15 years, a theft incident has once again created panic at Sonamura Bottoli Market. It is suspected that a daring theft took place at a grocery shop in Bottoli Market on Sunday night.

According to reports, Bottoli Market trader Nitu Das, as usual, closed his shop at night, locked it, and returned home. When he came to open the shop this morning, he found the shop door broken and several valuable items stolen from inside.

Shopkeeper Nitu Das said that a Poush Sankranti fair is scheduled to be held soon at Bottoli Market. In preparation for the fair, he had stocked various expensive goods, including Rani oil. The thieves made off with those items along with around ₹7,000 in cash kept in the shop’s cash box.

Nitu Das further stated that he has been doing business in this market for nearly 15 to 20 years, but had never faced such an incident before.

Local residents suspect that a group of drug addicts or intoxicated miscreants may be involved in the theft. After being informed, Sonamura Police Station personnel arrived at the spot, inspected the shop, and started an investigation.

However, a section of people opined that for the past few months, such thefts had not occurred because drug addicts who used to roam the lanes and bylanes of Sonamura were confined indoors. In recent days, they have allegedly been released again, which is why such theft incidents are resurfacing. Common people believe that unless strict action is taken against them, such crimes are bound to increase further.