Two rounds fired at a Saree factory in Surat industrial hub

Surat, Gujarat –– A wave of fear has swept through the industrial landscape after a brazen act of violence unfolded in a saree factory in Puna, in the diamond city of Surat. In a chilling incident that shocked employees and sent authorities scrambling, a former worker allegedly opened fire, robbed cash and mobile phones, and issued chilling threats before fleeing the scene in broad daylight on the afternoon of June 5. The alarming event highlights a dangerous escalation of personal disputes spilling into the workplace.

The terrifying ordeal began around 12:30 PM at Madansinh Bhati’s saree factory, located on the first floor of Bhagyoday Industry. Inside, three artisans – Mohammad Sameer Kamaruddin Ansari, Devendrakumar Dadhibalprasad Bharti, and Rakesh Sahani – were going about their work when the peace was shattered.

“We were just working, and suddenly, he walked in with a gun,” recounted a visibly shaken Mohammad Sameer Kamaruddin Ansari, referring to the assailant, identified as Dilip Singh, who had worked at the factory about a year and a half ago. “He and another unknown person with him immediately closed the door. Then, he just started firing, two or three rounds, at the glass of the office. We were terrified.”

After the initial burst of gunfire, the armed intruders reportedly rounded up the three artisans, forcing them to sit down. They then proceeded to smash the CCTV cameras before unleashing a torrent of abuse and threats. “They yelled, ‘What did you do to me to work at your place? Then why do you want to stay here?'” Ansari added, mimicking the menacing tone. “They threatened to kill us if we ever returned to work.” The harrowing encounter culminated in the robbers stripping the artisans of their mobile phones and approximately ₹10,000 in cash before making their escape.

Factory owner Madansinh Bhati, who was in the market at the time, was horrified upon hearing the news. “I was told two people entered my factory; one was indeed my old artisan, Dilip Singh. They threatened my workers, told them not to work here, and fired two rounds,” Bhati stated. “After looting mobile phones and money, they fled, threatening to tell me to ‘keep ten lakh rupees ready’.”

PI V.M. Desai of the local police confirmed the incident, stating, “Yesterday afternoon, around 12:30 pm, Dilip Singh alias Deepak, a former employee, came to the complainant’s factory. He threatened the workers with whom he had a previous dispute and fled after firing two to three rounds. We have received the complaint, and three different teams have been formed to arrest the accused based on CCTV footage, his photo ID, and mobile number.”