Armed police to protect gold traders in India

Following a high-profile gold robbery in Uttar Pradesh in India on Tuesday bullion traders in the district will now be accompanied by armed policemen when transporting precious metals.

Some 11 kilograms of gold jewellery were stolen from a vehicle on the Kanpur-Lucknow highway on December 19th after the driver was shot dead. Police are trying to catch those responsible.

Jewellers in the area closed their businesses in protest after the incident, demanding better protection from police against dangerous gold thieves and looters.

The senior superintendent of police in Kanpur city has now agreed to make armed security personnel available to bullion traders in Uttar Pradesh for a small fee when transferring jewellery from one district to another.

There have been a series of gold jewellery robberies in India recently as thieves look to cash in on its high value. Indeed the price of gold in India soars at this time of year in anticipation of the holidays and the Indian wedding season.