Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 14: In a decisive step to curb the rising incidences of gold thefts, robberies and fraud, Bengaluru’s jewellers’ community is considering a ban on customers wearing burqas (face-covering garments) inside jewellery stores.

The move follows similar security measures already in place in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where shopkeepers insist that customers’ faces must be clearly visible before entering.

Under the new guideline, customers would be prohibited from wearing any apparel or accessory that conceals the face, including helmets, masks or burqa-style clothing.

The proposal comes in the wake of a daring robbery in Hunsur, Mysuru district, where a gang wearing helmets and masks made off with 8 kg of gold and diamonds. Despite extensive investigations, authorities have yet to trace the culprits a month after the incident.

With gold prices at record highs, jewellery stores have become prime targets for thieves. Shopkeepers note that robbers deliberately wear masks or helmets, making identification difficult even with CCTV surveillance.

“A ‘No Face Mask, No Entry’ rule has become essential to protect both customers and high-value inventory,” said industry insiders.

Chetan Kumar Mehta, president of the Bengaluru Jewellers’ Association, explained: “In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, jewellers already deny entry to customers whose faces are not visible. We will hold a meeting soon to finalise a similar rule for Karnataka.”

The Association emphasised that the rule is purely for security and is not aimed at any particular religion or community. Both men and women will be required to ensure their faces are clearly visible to store surveillance cameras. The primary objective is to safeguard jewellery worth millions of rupees, even if the measure may evoke mixed reactions from customers.

The December 28 robbery at Sky Gold & Diamond on BM Road, Hunsur, underscores the urgency. Five armed men stormed the shop during peak hours, brandishing guns, and stole an estimated 7 to 8 kg of gold and diamonds worth crores of rupees. They threatened staff and customers, emptied showcases into bags, and fled on bikes and cars within minutes. Investigators are still searching for the suspects.