Under siege

Ramesh Bhana’s store in Ashton Road where raiders brandished knives before being driven off by a shutter pole

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Owner to shut up his shop after fending off latest raiders
TWO shop owners were viciously attacked within days of each other by robbers brandishing knives and hammers.

Ramesh Bhana, who has lung cancer, has vowed to close Bhana Stores in Ashton Road following the ambush. He drove off the raiers by swinging a shutter pole at them.

The devastated shopkeeper said it was the latest in a string of attacks on the shop he has owned for more than 22 years.

Another shopkeeper, Mushtaq Ahmed of Q & Sons Cash and Carry, on near-by Crete Street was attacked with a hammer in a similar raid.

Ramesh (61) and wife Badma (59) were working at around 10pm on April 5 when a group of four white men wearing dark clothing and with covered faces stormed into the shop with a knife and a hammer.

Badma said: “We were getting ready to close. The men came in and started shouting ‘money, money, money!’ and went towards the back room where Ramesh was with a friend.

“My husband grabbed the shutter pole and waved it at them and it made them back off and leave.”

Ramesh said: “We’ve had this shop for 22 years, and up until two years ago we’d had no trouble other than the odd theft.

“In the last two years we’ve had someone in here with a gun, someone with a bread knife, and now this. I’ve had lung cancer since last August; I think people know we’re a vulnerable target.

“We can’t cope with this anymore so we’re going to close.”

The family had £600 worth of security equipment installed after the previous attacks, but when Badma tried to use the panic button to alert the police this time it failed. They have no CCTV proof to be able to claim compensation. Police are appealing for information and witnesses.

Det Cons Phil Wilson said: “At this stage it is not clear whether the two incidents are linked but in both robberies the men appear to have carried weapons. We would ask anyone who saw either robbery or four men acting suspiciously near either shop to get in touch.”

Give information to oolice on 0161 856 8954 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Mushtaq Ahmed, of Q & Sons Cash and Carry, in Crete Street, Hathershaw, was ambushed on April 16 by four white men wearing black jackets who demanded money.

One hit Mushtaq (43) on the hand, head and chest with a hammer while the others raided the store.

He said: “Some of the group were small, like children. One stood at the door, two went to get the till and another was hitting me. They took £60 and the till and about £500 worth of cigarettes and children’s games. I’m in a lot of pain. It was vicious.”

His right hand has swollen to twice its size. He added: “Two years ago some men attacked the shop and they had a knife, so I’m wondering if this is going to happen again. This is not a good area, something bad happens around here every six months or so.”