DARBHANGA, Nov. 11 -- Five individuals have been arrested for their alleged involvement in an armed robbery in which a West Bengal-based jeweller was looted of silver bullion and cash after his vehicle was intercepted and his driver shot at near the proposed AIIMS site in Darbhanga, police said on Tuesday. The robbery took place between 10 pm and 11 pm on November 7 on the Shobhan-Ekmi road under Simri police station limits. The gang allegedly intercepted the jeweller's vehicle close to the main gate of the proposed AIIMS campus, shot at the driver, injuring his hand, and fled with bags containing silver biscuits and cash. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday evening, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jagunath Raddi said police had recovered 62.040 kg of silver-like metal biscuits and Rs.5,94,100 in cash. Two cars allegedly used in the crime, including one carrying a forged registration number, and several mobile phones were also seized. Police said they received information about the robbery on November 9 and registered a station diary entry (Sanha No. 376/26). Acting on the directions of the senior superintendent of police, a special team led by the Sadar-2 sub-divisional police officer was constituted to investigate the case. The investigation suggested that the robbery had been planned at Kushal Restaurant in Rambagh, owned by absconding accused Nikki Sah. The gang had allegedly been tracking the jeweller's movements and identified him as a lucrative target because he regularly travelled between West Bengal and Darbhanga carrying large quantities of silver and cash. According to police, the accused assembled near Shobhan Chowk around 9.30 pm on November 7. Nikki Sah allegedly provided information about the jeweller's vehicle, following which five men on two motorcycles pursued it towards Ekmi and intercepted it near the proposed AIIMS campus. One of them opened fire, injuring the driver, identified as Kaushik. The gang then fled towards Kadirabad bus stand with the looted valuables. Acting on technical inputs, police raided the house of Chhotu Kumar Yadav in Kadirabad and allegedly recovered Rs.5,94,100 concealed in a black plastic bag inside a dressing-table drawer. Yadav was apprehended while allegedly attempting to flee. His interrogation led police to Kushal Restaurant, where searches of vehicles parked nearby yielded 56 silver-like metal biscuits from SUV and another vehicle. The biscuits were concealed in coloured bags and a white plastic sack. Police subsequently recovered the remaining material, taking the total seizure to 62.040 kg. The silver biscuits were sealed in the presence of a forensic science laboratory team to establish their composition. Police also arrested Vishal Mahaseth alias Vicky and Dheeraj Soni during the investigation. An empty cartridge case bearing the markings '7.65 MM' and 'KF' was recovered from the crime scene during a subsequent inspection. The five arrested have been identified as Chhotu Kumar Yadav (29), Vishal Mahaseth alias Vicky (35), Santosh Kumar Sah (63), all residents of Kadirabad; Dheeraj Soni, of Jitugachhi under Laheriasarai Town police station; and Tejas Abhishek Chandra (23), of Shubhankarpur. The seized vehicles include a Tata Tigor (BR-07AY-9243A) and a Maruti Swift (BR-07AP-2202), which allegedly bore a forged number plate. Mobile phones of Oppo, Vivo and Redmi brands were also recovered. A case has been registered under Sections 310(2), 311, 317(3), 336(3), 338, 61(2) and 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 27 of the Arms Act. Police said raids were continuing to arrest other suspects, including Nikki Sah, and recover the remaining stolen property....