Meerut’s Sarafa Bazaar was thrown into turmoil after a gold craftsman fled overnight with nearly 770 grams of pure gold, valued at around ₹1 crore, leaving behind shocked and furious jewellery traders. The incident triggered major unrest at the Dehli Gate police station, where traders gathered in large numbers demanding immediate arrest of the accused.
Goldsmith Disappears Overnight With Family
The absconding craftsman, Shyam Sundar, a native of Vikrampur in West Bengal’s Devra police station area, had been living on rent in Meerut’s Brahmpuri. Several jewellers had given him gold to craft ornaments, trusting his assurance that the work would be completed within four days.
However, on the night of 20 November, Shyam Sundar vacated his rented house, taking along his family, belongings, and the gold entrusted to him. When jewellers tried to contact him on Saturday, his phone was found switched off.
How Much Gold Was Given to Him?
Multiple traders handed over gold to Shyam Sundar:
- Sandeep Kumar (Gauripura): 160 g
- Himanshu Das (Prahlad Nagar): 180 g
- Mahmood Ali Mandal: 180.450 g
- SK Baki (Railway Road): 250 g
In addition, several other traders have reportedly come forward but have chosen not to disclose their identities publicly for now.
Traders Protest at Police Station
Angry and anxious traders gathered at the Dehli Gate police station, demanding swift action. Police officials assured them that an FIR was being registered and a team would soon be sent to West Bengal to trace the accused.
SSP Dr. Vipin Tada confirmed that the investigation has begun and that raids in West Bengal will be conducted to arrest the goldsmith and recover the stolen gold.
Traders Plan to Write to Home Minister Amit Shah
Vijay Anand Agrawal, General Secretary of the Meerut Bullion Traders Association, said incidents of goldsmiths absconding with gold have risen sharply in recent years. He alleged poor cooperation from West Bengal police in such cases, making recovery difficult. The Association is now preparing a detailed report to be sent to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking intervention.
A Pattern of Repeated Thefts
Incidents of gold artisans running away with gold are not new to Meerut’s markets. Over the last year alone, more than a dozen such cases have been reported:
- 22 Feb 2025: Badshah Mulla – 175 g stolen by artisan Deepak
- 31 Jan 2025: Krishpendu – 100 g missing
- 13 Oct 2024: Sudip Bhuiya – gold worth ₹23.50 lakh missing
- 7 Oct 2024: Sheikh Shariful Hussain – 150 g stolen
- 9 Sep 2024: Uttam Kundalik – nearly ₹2 crore worth of gold stolen
- 20 Aug 2024: Satish – 245.81 g missing
- 12 Aug 2024: Sanjay Rastogi – 205 g stolen
- 9 June 2024: Gold worth ₹11 lakh missing
- 9 May 2024: Sagarmal – gold worth ₹4 lakh stolen
Police Had Earlier Warned Traders
Police sources revealed that jewellers had been repeatedly advised to conduct police verification of artisans coming from West Bengal and other states. While traders initially agreed, the verification process often stalled from both the traders’ and the police’s end — leading to recurring losses.
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