A brazen daytime theft in the Sabalgarh town of Morena district, Madhya Pradesh, has left local traders in shock after a clerk was robbed of a cash bag containing between ₹2 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh inside a medical store. The incident took place in a busy commercial area, triggering widespread anger among local business owners who have now threatened a strike if the culprit is not apprehended swiftly.
How the Theft Unfolded Inside the Medical Store
The victim, Chintu Saxena, works as a clerk for Mahalaxmi Agency based at the Morena district headquarters. On the day of the incident, Saxena had arrived in Sabalgarh to collect weekly payments from local pharmaceutical retailers. Having gathered approximately ₹2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh from various shopkeepers throughout the morning, he kept the collected funds securely inside his carry bag.
During the afternoon, Saxena stopped at Suresh Medical Store in Sabalgarh to settle accounts. He placed his cash bag on a counter inside the shop and began reviewing financial ledgers with the store owner. Taking advantage of a brief lapse in attention, an unidentified young man stepped into the shop, grabbed the bag, and sprinted away from the scene.
CCTV Footage Captures Fleeing Suspect
Although Saxena and the shopkeeper raised an immediate alarm, the perpetrator managed to blend into the surrounding crowd and escape before anyone could intercept him. The pharmacy itself lacked CCTV coverage inside or directly outside its entrance. However, police officers reviewing security footage from adjacent lanes discovered recordings from a nearby camera that captured a suspect running down an alley with the stolen bag in hand. Law enforcement authorities are currently utilizing this visual evidence to trace the suspect's identity and escape route.
Trader Outrage and 24-Hour Strike Threat
News of the theft spread quickly, bringing members and office bearers of the local Chemist Association to Suresh Medical Store to express solidarity. Police officials arrived shortly after to inspect the crime scene and review nearby camera feeds. Unhappy with security conditions in the market, the Chemist Association issued a strict 24-hour ultimatum to the police department demanding the recovery of the stolen money and the arrest of the culprit.
The president of the local Chemist Association warned that if law enforcement fails to resolve the case within the 24-hour window, all medical store owners across Sabalgarh will shut down their businesses and organize a sit-in protest. The association has also called for increased police presence and continuous routine patrolling throughout Sabalgarh's commercial districts to protect merchants carrying cash.
Impact on Local Business and Payment Operations
Sabalgarh serves as a major commercial hub for the surrounding rural block, relying heavily on wholesale suppliers in Morena and Gwalior for pharmaceuticals, food grains, electrical goods, and agricultural machinery. Supply transactions in these sectors typically operate on weekly credit, with collection agents visiting local shops every week to collect cash payments. The theft has alerted businesses across all trading sectors in Sabalgarh and Morena, emphasizing the vulnerability of cash collection clerks operating in high-density market zones.
