RAWALPINDI, July 4: Robbers stabbed a jeweller in New Sarafa Bazaar and escaped with gold ornaments worth Rs3.8 million on Wednesday.

The injured jeweller, Mohammad Amin Shahid, was shifted to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) where he is stated to be in critical condition.

When contacted, Chaudhry Fiaz, the vice-president Sarafa Bazaar Rawalpindi, said Shahid Amin, who owned a jewellery shop in the bazaar, was coming down the stairs after getting 67 tolas of gold ornaments polished from a workshop when two men intercepted him.

Quoting the injured, Mr Fiaz said: “They tied a piece of cloth around my neck and then beat my head with a wall. When I tried to escape, they stabbed me in the stomach after which I fell unconscious.”

He said the incident came to light when another jeweller came to the workshop and found Shahid lying on the stairs.

He said a senior police officer visited the crime scene and interviewed the shopkeepers of the market and assured them that the culprits would be arrested soon and the stolen valuables recovered.

He further said a meeting of jewellers would be held on Thursday to chalk out future strategy.