Phagwara, October 19, 2026: Three commercial establishments on Railway Road in Phagwara were allegedly targeted during an overnight burglary, with the owner of one shop reporting that ₹1.70 lakh in cash was taken from his premises.
The establishments identified by local traders as having been targeted are Parmar Engineering, Sharma Fast Food and Anand Electrical. Shopkeepers discovered signs of forced entry and damaged locks when they reached their businesses in the morning.
According to the owner of Parmar Engineering, the intruder gained access to the premises and allegedly broke open a safe containing approximately ₹1.70 lakh in cash. The shopkeeper said the money was missing when the business was opened the following morning.
Another trader, Ramesh Kumar, said the suspected intruder appeared to have used the rooftop area to move between adjoining establishments. He alleged that locks at neighbouring shops were also broken during the incident.
At Sharma Fast Food, the shopkeeper said damage was caused while an attempt was made to gain entry. The business reportedly escaped a major cash loss, although the incident left the owners concerned about security in the market.
Anand Electrical was also allegedly targeted. According to the traders, locks were damaged there as well, but no major cash theft was immediately reported from the establishment.
Shopkeepers further claimed that CCTV cameras or related surveillance equipment were taken from two of the premises, raising the possibility that the person involved may have attempted to remove material that could help identify them. This claim will require verification during the police investigation.
Gurdeep Singh, associated with one of the affected establishments, said the incident came to light only after the shop was opened in the morning. He maintained that ₹1.70 lakh had been taken after access was gained to the premises.
The affected traders have submitted a complaint to police and requested an investigation into the burglary. Police are expected to examine surveillance footage available from nearby shops and other establishments along Railway Road to trace the movements of the person or persons involved.
One of the complainants also alleged that police personnel had not reached the site for inspection even around two hours after the complaint was made. This is the shopkeeper’s account, and an official police response to the allegation was not immediately available.
Traders in the area said repeated incidents of theft have created concern among local businesses and called for increased night patrolling and surveillance around commercial areas.
The exact amount of property stolen from all three establishments, the number of people involved and their identities will become clearer after police examine the complaints, available CCTV footage and other evidence.
No suspect has been publicly identified at this stage, and the investigation will determine responsibility for the incident.
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